'It ruined my life for a month': Nathan Aspinall details 'horrific' abuse after initial Premier League Darts selection

Nathan Aspinall is one win away from The O2 and the final Premier League Darts play-off spot after beating Michael van Gerwen who he has to beat again next week as well as Chris Dobey later in the final in Aberdeen.

Aspinall was a contentious pick to start the Premier League with some calling him a pick due to a walk-on among other things but he has proved them wrong with this. He detailed the worst month of his life where he received abuse and so did his family after he got picked.

But in terms of Aberdeen, he said he saw it coming and said the relaxed nature of his week with BBQ's in the sun with his family and exhibitions meant he knew he was going to do something.

"It has been a rollercoaster of a night, I felt really good coming into it tonight. I was disappointed obviously last week. I've had a couple of fantastic exhibitions in Wales, three or four days home with the family. Sun's out. I felt dead relaxed coming into the night and I said to Kirsty, I don't think I'm going to beat Van Gerwen I think I'm going to win the night.

"Obviously the first game was huge but after that I felt the shackles had come off. I think my finishing has been fantastic this evening. There's been a couple of legs where I was out of the leg so I threw the darts away but apart from that I think my finishing is what won me this evening."

He next plays Michael van Gerwen who he has always held in high regard and said that it would mean more to beat him than any other player to qualify.

"He's the GOAT of darts. If I could qualify for the play-offs by beating Van Gerwen in back-to-back weeks that would probably mean more to me than any other dart player."

He spoke about the abuse and said that both him and Gerwyn Price received it after being included. He said they've used it as fire throughout but that he had to make changes as a result of it in terms of his use of social media.

"I spoke to Gezzy, I've not seen him since last Thursday and I shook his hand said well done for qualifying, you've done half of it it's down to me to finish the job. We've laughed all year about it, we know why we were picked. We've proved why we've been picked. How good would it be if we play in the final. First and foremost I've got to concentrate on next week."

"I'm not going to lie, it was s***. It was hard, it was horrific. I came off social media because of the abuse I was getting. It ruined my life for a month. Not just me but my families life. But I'm a professional sportsman I've got to deal with it and I put things in place to deal with that. I think me and Gezzy both received the same treatment but we've used it to our advantage. I've actually enjoyed this Premier League campaign more than any other. It's been the most competitive, the most entertaining, the most exciting."