{"id":374,"date":"2026-03-31T12:01:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T12:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=374"},"modified":"2026-03-31T12:01:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T12:01:20","slug":"pdc-refute-nathan-aspinall-claim-that-saudi-darts-crowd-were-not-there-of-their-own-accord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=374","title":{"rendered":"PDC refute Nathan Aspinall claim that Saudi darts crowd &#8216;were not there of their own accord&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_cc3189\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Nathan Aspinall recently had some choice words when it came to the atmosphere at the Saudi Arabia Masters and the PDC have now responded to his claims ahead of the second round<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\">11:19, 20 Jan 2026<\/span><span class=\"ArticleTimestamp_updated-date__7qD4Q ArticleTimestamp_updated-date-with-published__iFKpF\" data-testid=\"byline-updatedDate\">Updated 11:49, 20 Jan 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36581223\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Saudi Arabia Masters\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36581223.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2256574945.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36581223.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2256574945.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36581223.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2256574945.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36581223.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2256574945.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Nathan Aspinall has been a critic of the atmosphere at the Saudi Arabia Masters\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Nathan Aspinall has been a critic of the atmosphere at the Saudi Arabia Masters<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The PDC have moved to clarify the make-up of the crowd at the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters after Nathan Aspinall claimed that they were \u201cnot all there off their own accord\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The tournament got underway yesterday with a number of prominent stars including Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries all taking part. Another star to have flown to the Middle East to compete was Aspinall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking after beating Lourence Ilagan in his opening match, he gave his take on the atmosphere. He said: &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. There is definitely a long way to go.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s certainly different. I am not stupid, I feel like they were not all there of their own accord shall we say. It was quite a small venue but you&#8217;ve got to start somewhere.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_13e0b4\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">PDC confirm huge rule change that hits Luke Littler&#8217;s rivals after darts star&#8217;s complained<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_13e0b4\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Luke Humphries makes feelings clear ahead of controversial Saudi Arabia darts event<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">JOIN US ON FACEBOOK!<\/strong> <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MirrorSport#\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"\/><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Everything needs to start somewhere and as long as people walk away from this week and say, &#8216;we really enjoyed the darts&#8217; and the Saudi Arabian press really enjoy the darts there is no reason why not. I&#8217;ve enjoyed my time out here so far, there is worse places to be. I could be sat in Glossop in the snow, so hopefully we can be back again. &#8220;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The PDC have now responded to Aspinall and claimed that everyone in attendance was a keen spectator. A statement shared by <a aria-label=\"The TelegraphLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/darts\/2026\/01\/19\/nathan-aspinall-saudi-arabia-darts-masters-pdc-crowd\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">The Telegraph<\/a> read: \u201cNathan was reflecting on the fact that this was a first-of-its-kind darts event in the region, with many attendees experiencing live darts for the first time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cAs with any new market, the atmosphere and crowd make-up can differ from long-established darts events such as those in the UK and Europe.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36581228\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36581228\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Saudi Arabia Masters\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36581228.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2256574868.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36581228.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2256574868.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36581228.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2256574868.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36581228.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2256574868.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The Saudi Arabia Masters got underway this week\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The Saudi Arabia Masters got underway this week<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><em>What are your thoughts on the Saudi Arabia Masters? Share your response in the comments below<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cAll spectators attended as ticket holders or guests, and we were delighted to see such strong interest in the PDC\u2019s debut in Saudi Arabia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Away from Aspinall\u2019s comments, reigning world champion Littler has also spoken out and suggested that the atmosphere is far quieter than those he is used to. Speaking after beating Paul Lim, the teenager said: \u201cIt wasn\u2019t such a loud environment. But I managed to play okay early on. A win is a win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s very different. I didn\u2019t expect it. It\u2019s not going to be loud. I think we need a bit of noise. We aren\u2019t used to this. But I know what to expect on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cThe only thing you can compare it to myself is when I competed in the WDF a few years ago. Other than that, all the other venues are dead loud \u2013 this one is very different.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><em><a aria-label=\"Join our new WhatsApp communityLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Join our new WhatsApp community<\/a> and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us, and our partners. 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