Stockport star opened up on the PDC decision to leave him out of the Premier League as he defeats Lourence Ilagan in bahrian opener
21:40, 15 Jan 2026
Nathan Aspinall opened up on his Premier League snub as he managed to get beyond his “pain in the arse” pal in Bahrain.
The Stockport star didn’t expect an invite into the first two World Series Darts events in the Middle East having been overlooked for the 2026 campaign of 17 weeks in Europe.
Aspinall made Finals Night of the Premier League last year, but a slip down the rankings and premature exit from the World Championships shut the door in his face as he didn’t get a PDC pick.
However, rather than get annoyed, he’s determined to make the omission work for him, even if he didn’t enjoy the breaking of the news. Aspinall said: “I was travelling with Stephen Bunting and we were sat next to each other on the plane and he got a text message at quarter past three saying that he was in. I got a text message at 21 minutes past three saying I wasn’t in. He’s buzzing. I want to jump off the plane!
“I think I backdoored it last year. I don’t think I deserved it last year. I felt like I probably did deserve it this year and I didn’t get it, you take the rough with the smooth. I ain’t dwelling on it. I’ve not put anything out on social media because I can’t be bothered with people jumping on it. I’ve accepted the decision, we move forward and it gives me hunger and fight to not miss out again.”
“Last year I got in when maybe I shouldn’t have got in. S**t happens, you know what I mean? Of course I’m gutted. I absolutely love the Premier League and I’m not going to smoke up my own backside, but I think the Premier League will miss me this season, but I can concentrate on my ranking events and get back in that top eight, top four. And I’ll be back next year. I have no qualms. I know I’ll be back in it next year.
“I’ve got nothing to prove. What I’ve got to prove? I’ll put the work in and put myself in a position where I will not miss out on this year.
“I’ve been in the Premier League the last three years and you do pick and choose your events and it’s so hard. “I think I missed 16, 18 Pro Tours last year. Four or five Euro Tours. If I’m playing in them events, I’m winning another 50, 60, 70, 80 grand in ranking money the other boys in the Premier League aren’t making.
“The people close to me didn’t want me to get it. I wanted to get in because I love it and I get a buzz out of it. “But it gives me a good opportunity to make some good ranking money.”
Aspinall defeated Lourence Ilagan and was able to overcome his rival’s slow play, which also caused him issues at the Worlds.
The pair are mates off the stage, but it makes it no easier on the oche and the duo had a joke about it at the finale as the English star revealed: “I said you are an effing nightmare to play and he just laughed! I said it last game, he’s a lovely guy. We’ve had a good two days together. He’s a great guy. I have nothing against him. It’s an absolute pain in the a**e to play on the dartboard and that’s it. I just said you’re an absolute nightmare!
“It’s friendly banter. People make stories out of stuff that isn’t a story. He’s a nice guy, we’re friends, but he’s an absolute pain in the a***!”