Nathan Aspinall has made a candid comment about the crowd at the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters tournament, stating that he believes some attendees may not have been there of their own accord. The Englishman expressed his mixed feelings about the event, acknowledging that it was an "experience" different from other tournaments in Europe and Asia.
Aspinall also noted that the relatively small Global Theater venue in Riyadh meant that even though the crowd seemed lively at times, many spectators were not actively engaged throughout the competition. Notably, he highlighted instances where some fans remained seated while others were enthusiastically clapping along to the players' performances.
However, Aspinall also expressed his overall enjoyment of the event and its atmosphere, stating that when he glanced out into the crowd, it was clear that those watching were genuinely invested in the sport. His comments serve as a reflection on the challenges of introducing darts to new markets with varying levels of familiarity.
This Saudi Arabia Darts Masters tournament is one of several events being held by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) in non-traditional locations, including Asia and the Middle East. The event features top players like Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and others competing for significant prize pots.
In a separate aspect of the tournament, players will be vying for the biggest nine-dart prize pot in PDC history – $200,000 (£149,400). The winners will have the opportunity to double their earnings by hitting the bullseye with one extra dart. Aspinall's quarter-final matchup against Man Lok Leung will take place on Tuesday, alongside other high-stakes matches featuring prominent players like Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price.
Aspinall also noted that the relatively small Global Theater venue in Riyadh meant that even though the crowd seemed lively at times, many spectators were not actively engaged throughout the competition. Notably, he highlighted instances where some fans remained seated while others were enthusiastically clapping along to the players' performances.
However, Aspinall also expressed his overall enjoyment of the event and its atmosphere, stating that when he glanced out into the crowd, it was clear that those watching were genuinely invested in the sport. His comments serve as a reflection on the challenges of introducing darts to new markets with varying levels of familiarity.
This Saudi Arabia Darts Masters tournament is one of several events being held by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) in non-traditional locations, including Asia and the Middle East. The event features top players like Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, and others competing for significant prize pots.
In a separate aspect of the tournament, players will be vying for the biggest nine-dart prize pot in PDC history – $200,000 (£149,400). The winners will have the opportunity to double their earnings by hitting the bullseye with one extra dart. Aspinall's quarter-final matchup against Man Lok Leung will take place on Tuesday, alongside other high-stakes matches featuring prominent players like Gian van Veen and Gerwyn Price.
I think it's kinda weird that they're having these big tournaments in places like Saudi Arabia 
. I mean, I get it, the PDC is trying to expand its reach and all that, but sometimes you gotta wonder if people are really passionate about darts or just there for the hype. It's a bit of an experience different from the normal European/Asian darts scene, but at the same time, some parts felt kinda...forced 
. I mean, Aspinall's comments about the crowd being, like, half-asleep at times 
made me think that maybe they're just not used to this kind of thing yet? And then again, when he said the crowd was genuinely invested in the sport when he looked out into the stands 
, I was all like...wait a minute, is it really that simple? Can't we have both worlds? 
. I get that its a new market and stuff, but still, shouldn't everyone who shows up be genuinely stoked to see their fave players compete in person? 
. By hosting events in non-traditional locations like Asia and the Middle East, the PDC can help increase visibility and grow the sport's global appeal. The prize pot of $200,000 is certainly a significant draw, and I'm eager to see how the tournament unfolds 
.
it's like they're not even interested in the sport itself, just there for the free drinks and hospitality. and the venue is tiny too, I mean what were they expecting? a full stadium with thousands of screaming fans? 
at least Aspinall was honest about it though, he saw the passion in some people's eyes when they were cheering on their fave player so yeah, good for him for speaking up! 
. makes sense that the crowd's a bit of a mixed bag, new markets can be tough to crack 
maybe pdc will learn from this and make future events more interactive 
[GIF of a person hitting a bullseye]
. I mean, can you imagine being in a tournament where the fans aren't really invested? It's like watching a movie where everyone's just phoning it in 
! I'm hyped for Luke Littler and the others competing for that cash 
. Maybe Aspinall'll get that W tomorrow and we can talk about how lit it was 
I think it's interesting how Nathan Aspinall brought up the idea that some crowd members might not be there by choice... I mean, can you imagine being in a crowded venue with no escape? 
Still, he did say that most fans seemed invested in the sport, which is awesome! 
And $200k for hitting bullseye on just one more dart? That's some serious motivation 
Still, I guess it's true that new markets can be tough to crack. And hey, more prize money for darts is always welcome 
It's interesting that he mentioned the venue size being an issue too - sometimes you can't help but feel like the setting is more about the novelty of it all than the actual sport itself.