European Darts Open LIVE RESULT: Nathan Aspinall BEATS Damon Heta in dramatic final to claim title in Germany – updates
Nathan Aspinall has been mightily impressive this season, and he certainly turned up for the European Darts Open this weekend, despite Premier League Darts Finals disappointment earlier in the week.
Here is the Asp's key stats from the tournament:
- Average - 96.70
- 180s - 24
- Doubles - 31.73%
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Tonight's runner-up said: “Gutted, absolutely gutted.
“I’m pleased to be part of a quality match against this man.
“He’s come through his issues and I keep telling him: Imagine you at 100%, we’ve a lot to fear!
“I’m keen as a bean and this just makes me hungry to win.”
Nathan Aspinall accidentally dropped the F bomb when being interviewed after his match tonight, with the host having to apologise for the language.
Aspinall concluded: “I just try and help the lower ranked and younger generation.
“I’ve been through rubbish but I’m getting there and you just have to fight.
“Me and my team now believe we can win everything.
“It won’t always go our way but we’ll always give it our best.
“And the last couple of weeks have been pretty f***** good.”
He said: “The support I’ve had this weekend has been phenomenal.
“Credit to Damon, I thought that final was fantastic.
“It was like my semi final, it was close, nip-and-tuck. The last two matches were fantastic.
“The Asp is not far from being back!”
Nathan Aspinall had a long time to wait for his first Euro Tour win which came earlier this year.
Now he has his second ever win!
And he's the first man to win twice on the European Tour this year.
What a final leg to do it too!
Aspinall missed a dart at double 12 for a stunning 144 checkout.
Heta looked sure to punish him on 36, but hit single 18 and agonisingly hits single 9 when going for the double!
A second chance for Aspinall then, who returns for D6 and pins it first time.
Jubilation for him as he punches the air in delight - he's won his second Euro tour event this year!
ASPINALL BREAKS!!
And does so in 21 darts - hugely nervy leg!
Heta missed darts for the leg, with one at bullseye and two at D8 missing.
Aspinall - who missed tops twice on his previous visit - misses D10 by hitting single but manages to find D5 with his final dart in hand!
He'll now throw for the match!
And Heta BREAKS straight back!
Aspinall is fuming at himself, what a chance that is that's gone begging.
With Heta on 134, he takes on the big finish of his own but leaves just 10 when he returns.
His attempt at D5 misses, before hitting single 5 and then somehow D1 to leave 3.
Heta comes back to punish him hitting tops first time and takes us to 6-6!
A potential HUGE moment as Aspinall BREAKS Heta in leg 11!
Aspinall missed a dart at D18 for the leg and will have been fearing the worst when Heta returned for 71.
Heta's been perfect on his doubles but comes up short on D20 this time to let Aspinall back - and he pins D9 with his first dart!
And a routine hold of throw in return for Aspinall!
He leaves 32 after 12 darts with Heta 101 points behind.
No double trouble this time, though he does need two goes at D16. He still needs a break of throw too - and soon!
Stunning finishing from Heta who takes out 306 in six darts to finish the leg!
A superb 171 leaves him 135 and with Aspinall not on a finish, he doesn't need to go a bullseye route.
But he hits T19 and T18 to leave D12 and he's perfect on the outer ring once more.
Bit of a slog that leg with Heta not on a finish after 12 darts and Aspinall getting plenty of time to check out the 64 he'd left.
He needs all three darts on this visit but it's at least better finishing under little pressure and he's keeping tabs with Heta.
Excellent set-up play from Heta to hit a 150 from 186 to leave 36.
Aspinall piles the pressure on with a big shot of his own to leave 40 but Heta pins the D18 to edge ahead again.
He's four from four on the doubles!
Great hold of throw for Aspinall but more missed darts at double will be a concern.
He lets Heta back in and he was the width of a wire away from a shot at taking out 123.
Aspinall is then allowed back for 10 after misses at D20 and D10 again but he does check that out and gets us back on throw.
Another 12-dart leg from Heta as he holds to move ahead in the match!
Quite the turnaround in this one in the last few minutes.
Heta BREAKS to get us back all-square in the final!
Aspinall did have darts at D20 and D10 missed to let Heta in.
Having said that, it was a 130 checkout required which he finishes on the bull superbly!
Excellent response from Heta who gets on the board with a hold of throw.
Aspinall piles the pressure on leaving a two-dart finish but a great checkout of 84 from Heta sees him finish on the D11 to halve the deficit.
Think that first leg was good? The second was even better!
Back-to-back 180s in his second and third visit leaves him on just 45 after nine darts.
A terrific two-dart combo on 13, D16 sees him check the 45 out with no trouble at all and consolidate that break!
Terrific opening leg from Aspinall who gets the BREAK required in the very first leg!
He leaves just 36 after 12 darts and Heta can't get a throw at a double with 15 of his own.
The Asp comes back for D18 and pins the very centre of it with his first dart. Stellar start!
Damon Heta to throw first.
And it's a race to 8 legs from here. Game on!
Nathan Aspinall and Damon Heta welcomed onto the stage for the final time this weekend.
It must be said, the Leverkusen atmosphere has been absolutely terrific.
They're still going strong at this late time. So much so, I'm pretty sure they've just played Mr Brightside on an extra loop there.
Plenty of smiles, laughs and hugs between the pair as they have a practise throw before this one.
The Asp goes into the final as the favourite - but only just!
Damon Heta (11/10) vs Nathan Aspinall (8/11)
We have our Leverkusen final - and it looks an absolute belter on paper!
Damon Heta vs Nathan Aspinall!
Another hugely dramatic contest in what has been a superb day of darts.
And the huge celebration from Nathan Aspinall tells you just how much this victory means!
Aspinall missed match darts in the 12th leg to win it 7-5 and was taken all the way by Nijman, who kept pace in the decider too.
The score was 52-53 after 12 darts with Aspinall showing his struggles with getting over the line already today.
This time he hits 20 to leave 32, but throws match dart into D8 instead of D16.
That left him 16 remaining and he planted the third and final dart in beside it to clinch the match.
He runs along the stage punching the air, showing how much reaching another one of these finals means!
thesun
