Nathan Aspinall Claims First European Tour Darts Victory in Thrilling Final

Nathan Aspinall made history by winning his first European Tour title, defeating compatriot Ryan Joyce 8-4 in the European Darts Trophy final held in Germany. Aspinall showcased his prowess by never trailing after breaking Joyce's throw in the first leg of the best-of-eight match. He swiftly built a commanding 4-1 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Ryan Joyce, who was making his debut in a European Tour final after a remarkable semi-final victory over Michael van Gerwen, fought valiantly. He managed to narrow the gap to 4-3 and then 5-4, demonstrating his resilience. However, Aspinall, aged 33, maintained his composure and impressively won three consecutive legs to clinch the title and the £30,000 prize.

This victory marks Aspinall's second appearance in a European Tour final, following his defeat to Michael Smith in the 2023 German Darts Grand Prix. Aspinall's journey to the final was nothing short of spectacular. He delivered a stunning 170 checkout in the semi-finals against Gary Anderson, forcing a deciding leg. Earlier, he had decisively beaten world number one Luke Humphries 6-1 in the quarter-finals and edged out Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 in the third round.

Ryan Joyce, 39, also had an impressive run to the final, defeating former world champion Rob Cross 6-4 in the third round and overcoming Scotland's Cameron Menzies 6-3. His semi-final victory over Van Gerwen, a three-time world champion who had previously defeated Gerwyn Price, was particularly noteworthy.

World champion Luke Littler did not participate in the Gottingen event, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament.