Ladbrokes UK Open Semi-Finals and Final - Nathan Aspinall wins first PDC major title

Nathan Aspinall checked out 170 to win his first major PDC title at Butlin's Minehead against Rob Cross, beating the former world champion 11-5.

Photo from sportinglife.com

FINAL
Nathan Aspinall 11-5 Rob Cross
Rob Cross was bidding to win his second major having not tasted success since the 2018 world championship, to prove he was not just a flash in the pan.
He struggled for the majority of the match, and following a gruelling three days of darts he said after the final that he had nothing left in the tank.
Aspinall won his first Players Championship title back in September having only earned his Tour Card at the start of 2018 before reaching the semi-finals of his debut World Championship in December.
The Asp came into the tournament ranked 34th on the Order of Merit which means he's the first player to win a ranked TV major from outside the top 32 since 2012 while he's also the quickest player to reach the top 16 since earning a Tour Card.
Aspinall defeated Toni Alcinas, Christian Kist, Madars Razma, Steve Lennon, Ross Smith and Gerwyn Price en route to the final.
The 27-year-old found himself 1-0 down when Cross landed an 81 checkout for a 12-darter but the quality for the rest of the match could not be maintained.
From 2-2, Aspinall won three legs on the spin, before the former world champion took out 81 again for an 11-darter as he closed the gap to 6-5.
Aspinall then won five legs in succession - but none of them were finished in less than 16 darts until his show-stopping Big Fish finish.

MATCH STATS
Aspinall - Cross

Averages
88.72 - 84.79

180s
2 - 8

Doubles
11/26 - 5/20

Highest Checkout
170 - 81

SEMI-FINALS
Gerwyn Price 9-11 Nathan Aspinall
Nathan Aspinall had earlier withstood a stunning comeback from Gerwyn Price to win 11-9.
The Stockport thrower surged into leads of 5-1 and 9-4 as the Iceman struggled to maintain the form which put him as one of the tournament favourites early on.
Aspinall won the 13th leg with a superb 100 checkout but Price then won three legs on the trot, including a fine checkout from 70.
Aspinall produced a stunning finish from 121 to complete a 12-dart under huge pressure as Price waited on 41 after firing in a maximum.
Price hit a single one on 70, and then failed to hit the bullseye with the third dart, allowing the Asp in to snatch victory.

Rob Cross 11-7 Michael Smith
Rob Cross reached his first major final in over a year after an 11-7 victory over Michael Smith.
Bully Boy, still struggling on his feet due to the long weekend, fired in seven 180s, but he crucially missed 15 darts at doubles while Cross hit 11 out of 20 attempts.
Voltage hit a 146 checkout to take the first leg, as well as two other 100+ out shots.

RESULTS
First Round
Rileys Amateur Qualifiers, PDC Challenge Tour Qualifiers and PDC Order of Merit 97-128 enter
Mark McGeeney (ENG) 6-3 David Pallett (ENG)
Wes Newton (ENG) 4-6 Cameron Menzies (SCO)
Barry Lynn (ENG) 4-6 Michael Rasztovits (AUT)
Jamie Hughes (ENG) 6-3 Callan Rydz (ENG)
Dennis Nilsson (SWE) 2-6 Madars Razma (LTV)
Mike van Duivenbode (NED) 2-6 Ted Evetts (ENG)
Scott Taylor (ENG) 6-4 Darius Labanauskas (LIT)
Conan Whitehead (ENG) 6-3 Michael Burgoine (ENG)
Shaun Fox (ENG) 1-6 Andy Jenkins (ENG)
Joe Murnan (ENG) 6-3 Mark Frost (ENG)
Diogo Portela (BRZ) 6-4 Barrie Bates (WAL)
Adam Huckvale (ENG) 6-3 Mark Barilli (SCO)
Geert Nentjes (NED) 6-5 David Evans (ENG)
Cody Harris (NZ) 6-5 John Davey (WAL)
Kirk Shepherd (ENG) 6-2 Jonathan Worsley (WAL)
Jose de Sousa (POR) 6-4 Brian Raman (BEL)
Nathan Derry (ENG) 6-4 Lee Budgen (ENG)
Vincent van der Meer (NED) 6-1 Eddie Dootson (ENG)
Matt Clark (ENG) 6-3 Niels Zonneveld (NED)
Jarred Cole (ENG) 6-4 Michael Barnard (ENG)
Jason Cullen (IRE) 3-6 Reece Robinson (ENG)
Christian Bunse (GER) 4-6 John Michael (GRE)
Martin Atkins (ENG) 3-6 Jamie Bain (SCO)
Marko Kantele (FIN) 6-2 Chris Lacey (ENG)
Lloyd Browning (WAL) 6-4 Lee Harris (ENG)
Kevin Thoburn (ENG) 6-5 Matthew Dennant (ENG)
Adrian Gray (ENG) 6-1 Ian McFarlane (ENG)
Daniel Day (ENG) 1-6 Maik Kuivenhoven (NED)
Carl Wilkinson (ENG) 4-6 Yordi Meeuwisse (NED)
Terry Temple (ENG) 5-6 Simon Preston (ENG)
Robbie Collins (ENG) 6-1 Rowby-John Rodriguez (AUT)
Darren Beveridge (SCO) v BYE

Second Round
PDC Order of Merit 65-96 enter
Dawson Murschell (CAN) 3-6 Ross Smith (ENG)
Glen Durrant (ENG) 6-1 Maik Kuivenhoven (NED)
Diogo Portela (BRZ) 1-6 Jamie Hughes (ENG)
Scott Taylor (ENG) 6-3 Kevin Burness (NIR)
Wayne Jones (ENG) 2-6 Vincent Kamphuis (NED)
Cody Harris (NZ) 2-6 Adam Hunt (ENG)
Simon Preston (ENG) 3-6 Arron Monk (ENG)
Kirk Shepherd (ENG) 6-4 Bradley Brooks (ENG)
Mark Wilson (ENG) 4-6 Mark Dudbridge (ENG)
Madars Razma (LTV) 6-3 Mark McGeeney (ENG)
Ted Evetts (ENG) 3-6 George Killington (ENG)
Robbie Collins (ENG) 3-6 Andy Boulton (ENG
Matthew Edgar (ENG) 6-3 Gary Eastwood (ENG)
Harry Ward (ENG) 6-3 Lloyd Browning (WAL)
Cameron Menzies (SCO) (timed out) 0-6 Jamie Bain (SCO)
Nathan Derry (ENG) 6-4 Vincent Van der Meer (NED)
Robert Marijanovic (GER) 3-6 Davy van Baelen (BEL)
Andy Jenkins (ENG) 5-6 Mario Robbe (NED)
Simon Stevenson (ENG) 6-2 Adrian Gray (ENG)
Gavin Carlin (NIR 6-2 John Michael (GRE)
Scott Baker (ENG) 6-2 Ryan Harrington (ENG)
Tony Newell (ENG) 4-6 Adam Huckvale (ENG)
Tytus Kanik (POL) 0-6 Yordi Meeuwisse (NED)
Michael Rasztovits (AUT) 6-5 Conan Whitehead (ENG)
Peter Hudson (ENG) 6-3 John Goldie (SCO)
Geert Nentjes (NED) 6-3 Jarred Cole (ENG)
Robert Owen (WAL) 6-4 Marko Kantele (FIN)
Joe Murnan (ENG) 6-4 Ryan Meikle (ENG)
Darren Beveridge (SCO) 2-6 Luke Woodhouse (ENG)
Reece Robinson (ENG) 6-1 Jose De Sousa (POR)
Jose Justicia (SPN) 6-2 Kevin Thoburn (ENG)
Dirk van Duijvenbode (NED) 6-3 Matt Clark (ENG)

Third Round
PDC Order of Merit 33-64 enter
Luke Humphries (ENG) 6-1 Vincent van der Voort (NED)
Toni Alcinas (SPN) 3-6 Nathan Aspinall (ENG)
Ricky Evans (ENG) 6-5 Jose Justicia (SPN)
Dimitri Van den Bergh (BEL) 6-0 Kirk Shepherd (ENG)
Mickey Mansell (NIR) 6-1 Danny Noppert (NED)
James Richardson (ENG) 0-6 Steve Lennon (IRE)
Scott Baker (ENG) 4-6 Krzysztof Ratajski (POL)
Devon Petersen (SA) 2-6 Jamie Hughes (ENG)
Gabriel Clemens (GER) 6-2 Zoran Lerchbacher (AUT)
Luke Woodhouse (ENG) 6-4 Chris Dobey (ENG)
Simon Stevenson (ENG) 6-3 Mark Webster (WAL)
Gavin Carlin (NIR) 6-2 Glen Durrant (ENG)
Richard North (ENG) 6-5 Ronny Huybrechts (BEL)
Ryan Joyce (ENG) 6-3 Robert Owen (WAL)
Jamie Bain (SCO) 3-6 Josh Payne (ENG)
Reece Robinson (ENG) 6-4 Dirk Van Duijvenbode (NED)
Mark Dudbridge (ENG) 5-6 William O'Connor (IRE)
Mario Robbe (NED) 2-6 Jeffrey de Zwaan (NED)
Andy Boulton (ENG) 4-6 Christian Kist (NED)
Vincent Kamphuis (NED) 3-6 Scott Taylor (ENG)
Matthew Edgar (ENG) 3-6 Ryan Searle (ENG)
Harry Ward (ENG) 4-6 Jan Dekker (NED)
Aaron Monk (ENG) 6-5 Robert Thornton (SCO)
George Killington (ENG) 4-6 Madars Razma (LTV)
Davy Van Baelen (BEL) 4-6 Martin Schindler (GER)
Adam Huckvale (ENG) 2-6 Brendan Dolan (NIR)
Nathan Derry (ENG) 5-6 Keegan Brown (ENG)
Yordi Meeuwisse (NED) 3-6 Ross Smith (ENG)
Ron Meulenkamp (NED) 6-5 Adam Hunt (ENG)
Geert Nentjes (NED) 6-0 Justin Pipe (ENG)
Joe Murnan (ENG) 6-4 Alan Tabern (ENG)
Michael Rasztovits (AUT) 2-6 Peter Hudson (ENG)

Fourth Round
PDC Order of Merit 1-32 enter
Joe Cullen (ENG) 6-10 Gerwyn Price (WAL)
Michael van Gerwen (NED) 6-10 Mervyn King (ENG)
Steve Beaton (ENG) 10-8 Gary Anderson (SCO)
Mensur Suljovic (AUT) 10-8 Peter Wright (SCO)
Dave Chisnall (ENG) 10-8 Luke Humphries (ENG)
Rob Cross (ENG) 10-4 Darren Webster (ENG)
Raymond van Barneveld (NED) 7-10 Simon Stevenson (ENG)
Adrian Lewis (ENG) 9-10 Jamie Lewis (WAL)
Jelle Klaasen (NED) 4-10 Madars Razma (LTV)
James Wilson (ENG) 1-10 James Wade (ENG)
Stephen Bunting (ENG) 6-10 Steve Lennon (IRE)
Geert Nentjes (NED) 3-10 Max Hopp (GER)
Peter Hudson (ENG) 3-10 Kim Huybrechts (BEL)
Martin Schindler (GER) 10-7 Adam Hunt (ENG)
Jeffrey de Zwaan (NED) 2-10 Jermaine Wattimena (NED)
Benito van de Pas (NED) 3-10 Gabriel Clemens (GER)
Luke Woodhouse (ENG) 10-7 Gavin Carlin (NIR)
Joe Murnan (ENG) 4-10 Krzysztof Ratajski (POL)
Ricky Evans (ENG) 5-10 Dimitri Van den Bergh (BEL)
Jan Dekker (NED) 3-10 Simon Whitlock (AUS)
William O'Connor (IRE) 4-10 Keegan Brown (ENG)
Nathan Aspinall (ENG) 10-9 Christian Kist (NED)
Jamie Hughes (ENG) 10-5 Ian White (ENG)
Daryl Gurney (NIR) 10-1 Reece Robinson (ENG)
John Henderson (SCO) 10-5 Michael Smith (ENG)
Josh Payne (ENG) 10-2 Kyle Anderson (AUS)
Jonny Clayton (WAL) 10-3 Arron Monk (ENG)
Mickey Mansell (NIR) 10-9 Scott Taylor (ENG)
Cristo Reyes (SPN) 10-2 Ryan Joyce (ENG)
Alan Norris (ENG) 5-10 Ross Smith (ENG)
Brendan Dolan (NIR) 4-10 Richard North (ENG)
Ryan Searle (ENG) 4-10 Steve West (ENG)

Fourth Round
James Wade (ENG) 10-7 Max Hopp (GER)
Michael Smith (ENG) 10-9 Daryl Gurney (NIR)
Mensur Suljovic (AUT) 9-10 Dimitri Van den Bergh (BEL)
Mervyn King (ENG) 5-10 Rob Cross (ENG)
Madars Razma (LTV) 2-10 Nathan Aspinall (ENG)
Simon Whitlock (AUS) 10-8 Gabriel Clemens (GER)
Jamie Lewis (WAL) 7-10 Josh Payne (ENG)
Jamie Hughes (ENG) 7-10 Gerwyn Price (WAL)
Steve Beaton (ENG) 10-8 Keegan Brown (ENG)
Krzysztof Ratajski (POL) 10-7 Jonny Clayton (WAL)
Simon Stevenson (ENG) 10-6 Kim Huybrechts (BEL)
Jermaine Wattimena (NED) 10-8 Luke Woodhouse (ENG)
Mickey Mansell (NIR) 8-10 Steve Lennon (IRE)
Dave Chisnall (ENG) 10-5 Martin Schindler (GER)
Ross Smith (ENG) 10-5 Steve West (ENG)
Richard North (ENG) 7-10 Cristo Reyes (SPN)

Fifth Round
James Wade (ENG) 7-10 Ross Smith (ENG)
Krzysztof Ratajski (POL) 3-10 Gerwyn Price (WAL)
Michael Smith (ENG) 10-3 Jermaine Wattimena (NED)
Rob Cross (ENG) 10-6 Cristo Reyes (SPN)
Nathan Aspinall (ENG) 10-8 Steve Lennon (IRE)
Dave Chisnall (ENG) 9-10 Simon Stevenson (ENG)
Steve Beaton (ENG) 10-8 Dimitri Van den Bergh (BEL)
Simon Whitlock (AUS) 7-10 Josh Payne (ENG)

Quarter-Finals
Rob Cross (ENG) 10-7 Josh Payne (ENG)
Michael Smith (ENG) 10-1 Steve Beaton (ENG)
Simon Stevenson (ENG) 5-10 Gerwyn Price (WAL)
Nathan Aspinall (ENG) 10-6 Ross Smith (ENG)

Semi-Finals
Gerwyn Price (WAL) 9-11 Nathan Aspinall (ENG)
Rob Cross (ENG) 11-7 Michael Smith (ENG)

Final
Nathan Aspinall (ENG) 11-5 Rob Cross(ENG)

Day One Results and Report
Day Two Results and Report
Quarter-Finals Results and Report

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