Nathan Aspinall, the 34-year-old English professional darts player, has expressed his skepticism about the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters, questioning how many spectators were genuinely interested in the sport. Speaking to YouTube channel Darts Now, Aspinall stated that the atmosphere was "different" due to the absence of alcohol and the limited venue capacity.
Aspinall noted that while there were more people than expected at the Global Theater in Riyadh, he couldn't help but wonder if they all attended voluntarily or were merely attending out of obligation. This sentiment reflects his ambivalence about the event's success, despite Aspinall enjoying himself and feeling the crowd was engaged throughout the tournament.
In contrast to some fans' excitement for the new venue and unique setup, others expressed concerns about the Saudi Arabian regime's human rights record and environmental impact.
The tournament has been a notable milestone in the World Series of Darts, showcasing its appeal to both local and international audiences. It also provided an opportunity to introduce darts to a broader audience, especially with the free admission policy and high prize pool for nine-dart finishes.
Aspinall expressed amusement at the enthusiastic reactions from fans, particularly when the crowd clapped during specific moments of the game. In his opinion, this was a key factor in making the tournament enjoyable.
The event concluded with an impressive array of talent competing, including Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen who have both achieved success as world champions.
With the largest prize pool for a nine-darter ever awarded at $200,000 (£149,400), the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters will undoubtedly draw more attention to this popular sport in the coming months.
Aspinall noted that while there were more people than expected at the Global Theater in Riyadh, he couldn't help but wonder if they all attended voluntarily or were merely attending out of obligation. This sentiment reflects his ambivalence about the event's success, despite Aspinall enjoying himself and feeling the crowd was engaged throughout the tournament.
In contrast to some fans' excitement for the new venue and unique setup, others expressed concerns about the Saudi Arabian regime's human rights record and environmental impact.
The tournament has been a notable milestone in the World Series of Darts, showcasing its appeal to both local and international audiences. It also provided an opportunity to introduce darts to a broader audience, especially with the free admission policy and high prize pool for nine-dart finishes.
Aspinall expressed amusement at the enthusiastic reactions from fans, particularly when the crowd clapped during specific moments of the game. In his opinion, this was a key factor in making the tournament enjoyable.
The event concluded with an impressive array of talent competing, including Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen who have both achieved success as world champions.
With the largest prize pool for a nine-darter ever awarded at $200,000 (£149,400), the Saudi Arabia Darts Masters will undoubtedly draw more attention to this popular sport in the coming months.
. Like, how original that he thinks people only went there because they had to. Who hasn't thought that? And yeah, no kidding, the atmosphere was different with all those restrictions... who doesn't hate being held back by stuff like that? 
he played in front of some pretty massive crowds and its hard not to wonder if people were genuinely stoked about the darts or just fillin up seats 
, but at the same time its defo a big deal that darts is gettin more exposure especially wif that free admission policy 
. And on the other side, there's this massive elephant in the room – Saudi Arabia's human rights record 
. Anyways, it'll be interesting to see how this event continues to grow and evolve in the coming months 
️.
. And the rules, no drinking allowed 
It's like when we try to fix a leaky pipe with a fancy gadget, sometimes it's the simple stuff that works best 
. The prize pool was insane! $200k for a 9-darter? That's wild 
but at the same time I gotta respect his point. I'm all for more people coming out to watch darts, especially with that crazy prize pool, but you can't deny it was a bit of an awkward vibe without the usual crowd energy. And let's be real, some ppl were probs only there 'cause their mates told them to come 
like what? You're not really interested in darts, but you don't wanna hurt your mate's feelings 
anyway, I think Nathan's right, we do need to see how genuine the interest is, not just people trying to be good sports. Fingers crossed it'll get better next time out 
. But hey, free admission is always a winner, right? 
. Not too shabby!
. Maybe Aspinall's skepticism was due to the fact that a lot of attendees were, ahem, 'forced' to come 
. The event did showcase some amazing talent, though! 
that $200k prize pool is a major draw tho, might actually bring darts to more people now 
.
I mean, the atmosphere at that tournament was pretty weird, right? It's like they tried to create a vibe without booze and all that, but it felt kinda forced 
. It's like, you're trying to enjoy the event and have a good time, but there's always that little voice in the back of your head wondering if everyone's really into it or just going through the motions 
. But hey, at least the tournament was a success in terms of attracting new fans and showcasing the sport's appeal 
? $200k is no joke! 