Aspinall questions crowd at new Saudi tournament

Nathan Aspinall has offered an honest and reflective assessment of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, admitting the experience felt unusual and suggesting that parts of the audience may not have attended entirely by choice. The tournament, staged in Riyadh, marked the first time a World Series of Darts event has been held in Saudi Arabia and represents another step in the country’s expanding involvement in global sport.

The two-day competition features some of the biggest names in darts, including reigning world champion Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries, Dutch great Michael van Gerwen, and former world champions such as Gerwyn Price. Despite the star power on display, Aspinall believes there is still significant work to be done before Saudi Arabia can become a long-term home for elite darts.

Speaking to the YouTube channel Darts Now, the 34-year-old Englishman acknowledged the novelty of the setting and atmosphere. He described the event as “certainly different” and suggested the crowd experience did not resemble what players are used to on the PDC circuit. The Saudi Arabia Darts Masters is being played at the Global Theater in Riyadh, a venue with a capacity of around 1,000, far smaller than the packed arenas typically associated with major darts events.

Aspinall hinted that not everyone in attendance appeared to be there purely out of personal interest in darts. While stopping short of making direct accusations, he suggested the audience felt partially staged, noting that the crowd reaction did not always align naturally with the flow of the game. Despite these reservations, he stressed that every sporting venture has to begin somewhere.

The Professional Darts Corporation has yet to comment publicly on Aspinall’s remarks, but the event forms part of the World Series of Darts and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy of hosting high-profile sporting competitions. In recent years, the kingdom has staged Formula 1 races, high-profile boxing bouts, major golf tournaments, and will host the men’s football World Cup in 2034.

These investments have drawn criticism from human rights groups and environmental campaigners, who argue that Saudi Arabia is using sport to improve its global image. Aspinall did not directly address these political concerns, but his comments highlighted the cultural and practical differences players experience when competing in the region.

One of the most noticeable changes is the absence of alcohol, which has long been associated with the lively and often raucous atmosphere of darts crowds, particularly in Europe and the UK. Aspinall admitted the lack of alcohol made the environment feel different, though he was pleasantly surprised by the level of engagement from those in attendance.

He explained that while the crowd might not have been as loud or animated as traditional darts audiences, they appeared genuinely focused on the action. Aspinall said he could clearly see spectators watching the game closely, which he took as a positive sign that interest in the sport could grow over time.

The Englishman also noted that his expectations had been exceeded in some respects. He admitted he had anticipated a much smaller turnout, but was encouraged by the number of fans who showed up across the two days. For Aspinall, the key measure of success will be whether people leave the event having enjoyed the experience and wanting to see more darts in the future.

On the playing side, the tournament has added further intrigue by offering the largest prize ever seen in PDC history for a nine-darter. Players can earn $100,000 for hitting the perfect leg, with the prize rising to $200,000 if they follow it up by hitting the bullseye with an additional dart. The incentive has added excitement and sharpened focus among competitors.

Aspinall himself made a confident start to the tournament, defeating Philippines player Lourence Ilagan 6-2 in the first round. He revealed he found himself laughing during the match as the crowd reacted in unexpected ways, including applauding when players still had darts left in their hand after hitting a treble 20. These moments highlighted how new the sport is to many spectators in the region.

He is now set to face Man Lok Leung of Hong Kong in the quarter-finals. Leung caused one of the tournament’s biggest surprises by beating Dutchman Danny Noppert 6-3, earning a place in the last eight and underlining the unpredictable nature of the competition.

Elsewhere in the draw, Luke Littler continued his impressive form with a comfortable 6-1 win over Singaporean veteran Paul Lim. Luke Humphries also progressed smoothly, defeating Japan’s Ryusei Azemoto 6-2. Michael van Gerwen showed his class with a dominant 6-1 victory over India’s Nitin Kumar.

Welsh star Gerwyn Price produced a flawless performance, whitewashing Philippines player Alexis Toylo 6-0, while England’s Stephen Bunting advanced with a 6-1 win against Japan’s Tomoya Goto. These results set up a strong quarter-final lineup featuring many of the sport’s biggest names.

The quarter-final matches include Michael van Gerwen versus Stephen Bunting, Nathan Aspinall against Man Lok Leung, Gian van Veen facing Luke Littler, and Gerwyn Price taking on Luke Humphries. The matchups promise high-quality darts as players chase both prize money and prestige.

While questions remain about the long-term viability of hosting darts in Saudi Arabia, Aspinall’s overall tone was cautiously optimistic. He acknowledged the challenges but recognised the importance of introducing the sport to new audiences. If the event can generate genuine interest and positive experiences, it may yet carve out a place on the global darts calendar.

For now, the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters stands as a bold experiment—one that reflects darts’ ambition to grow beyond its traditional strongholds, even if the path forward remains uncertain.

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