ASPINALL BLASTS RANKINGS OBSESSION

NATHAN ASPINALL has slammed darts’ growing obsession with rankings and says the fixation is overshadowing the sport.

‘The Asp’ insists he’s not bothered about his own position and believes fans and players are losing sight of the tournaments themselves.

World No15 Aspinall has been in great form and reached the final of the Players Championship Finals before falling 11-8 to Luke Littler.

Aspinall says the constant focus on who sits where in the Order of Merit is distracting from what actually matters on the oche.

He said: “I don’t really care about the rankings.

“As long as I am in all the TV events and I qualify for all the Euro Tours, I genuinely don’t care where I am in the rankings.

“Look at Luke and Luke – the whole darts world had been fixated on the world No1 for the last three months.

“It’s like the other players might as well not play darts. It’s like well whoever wins this is No1.

“The rankings takeover the actual tournaments. It happened in the Masters where for two years the winner got into the Premier League.

“That overshadowed the tournament. I think at the moment everyone is fixated on the rankings that they are forgetting to enjoy the tournaments.”

Stockport thrower Aspinall has lifted THREE European Tour titles this season and reached the final at Players Championship 13 and 31.

Two-time major winner Aspinall is targeting a return inside the top four next year.

He added: “For me I know where I am going to be at the end of the year. I will be in the top 16 I have no doubt.

“I am happy with that and next year we will move on. Next year I have absolutely nothing to defend.

“I think I am defending £125,000 next year for a whole year, bearing in mind I have had £500,000 to defend this year.

“I’m not looking at now, I’m looking at this time next year. This time next year I will be top four – that’s my target.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.