Nathan Aspinall won’t be partying until the early hours this New Year’s Eve (Image: SKY SPORTS)
admits he won’t be able to stick to his usual traditions after beating Ricardo Pietreczko to reach the quarter-finals.
The Asp thrashed his out-of-sorts German opponent in front of a raucous Alexandra Palace crowd on Monday afternoon, winning their fourth-round contest 4-0.
Aspinall is now lined up to face the winner of Luke Littler’s match with Ryan Joyce tonight. The last-eight match will take place on New Year’s Day.
And as a result, the Stockport-born 33-year-old admits he won’t be able to party until the hours of the morning as he has done in the past few years.
The two-time semi-finalist told Sky Sports: “I am usually out to eight o’clock in the morning but it will be different this year with my family and Chris Dobey. I can’t wait for New Year’s Day.”
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Pietreczko had to deal with consistent jeers throughout their match. Speaking after his emphatic victory, Aspinall added: “I feel for Ricardo. He didn’t play the game he set out to play.
“But, wow, what an atmosphere! I have played in arenas but never heard anything like this today. I was so in control of the game but darts is weird.
“He lost lots of legs on the bounce but he can still come back in set play. I thought, ‘I cannot lose another leg’ and then hit that 131 [with two double tops].
“This is probably the first game of darts since the Matchplay where I have walked on stage and loved every minute – and that is down to the crowd.”
A 4-0 Nathan Aspinall win sees him through to the quarter-finals, where he could face Luke Littler or Ryan Joyce ??????
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts)
Nathan Aspinall is into the quarter-finals of the World Championship (Image: GETTY)
Aspinall admitted that he has previously struggled with the criticism he receives on social media, which he declared he has now come off of.
The world No.12 said: “My biggest problem is going on social media – I can’t do right for doing wrong. I play well, I get criticised, I say the wrong thing, I get criticised.
“Why am I bothered about the keyboard warriors when I have this support? [from the crowd]. That is a lesson for myself.”
The winner of Aspinall’s match against Littler or Joyce will then go head-to-head against Peter Wright or Stephen Bunting/Luke Woodhouse in the semis on January 2.