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Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall disagree on controversial Saudi darts tournament
Reach Daily Express | January 21, 2026 4:39 AM CST

Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall have both shared contrasting opinions following the inaugural Saudi Arabia Darts Masters. It was the first time an official PDC tournament was held in the Middle Eastern nation, with things looking and feeling a little different than usual.

For starters, the walk-ons were less walk-ons and more players emerging from a flashing vortex on the stage. While it's safe to say not all members of the crowd were entirely clued up on what was unfolding, with some low-scoring visits having been cheered as if they were actually nine-darters.

But perhaps the biggest difference was the lack of fancy dress, chanting, and crucially, alcohol in the crowd. Overall, it was a fairly tepid affair, and something completely abstract from what most darts fans have become accustomed to.

For former world champion Price, it's been a welcome break to the norm. Speaking after day one of the event, Price explained: "They were watching and engaged in the darts. A couple of times when I walked back after my visit, I just looked out into the crowd and they were all fully focused, watching and engaged in the darts."

Before adding: "Sometimes in other arenas they're there for a good drink and a party atmosphere and sometimes they're not even watching the darts. Here they were more involved in watching the darts."

But Aspinall wasn't as convinced, with the former Matchplay winner questioning how legitimate their interest in the event was. He remarked: "There is definitely a long way to go. It's certainly different. I am not stupid, I feel like they were not all there of their own accord shall we say. It was quite a small venue but you've got to start somewhere.

"Everything needs to start somewhere and as long as people walk away from this week and say, 'we really enjoyed the darts' and the Saudi Arabian press really enjoy the darts there is no reason why not. I've enjoyed my time out here so far, there is worse places to be. I could be sat in Glossop in the snow, so hopefully we can be back again."

The action continues for the first-ever Saudi Darts Masters on Tuesday, with both Price and Aspinall in action. It's the second of the World Series events so far this year, with Michael van Gerwen having already triumphed at the Bahrain Darts Masters.


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