Why Nathan Aspinall ‘pooed his pants’ backstage at World Darts Championship

Nathan Aspinall’s 3-0 win over Leonard Gates at the World Darts Championship was comfortable but it came with a scare beforehand.

The Asp faced the American in the second round at Alexandra Palace and breezed into the last 32, where he takes on Kevin Doets.

Gates had a unique way to try and get in his opponent’s head before the contest, and although it obviously didn’t work, it did give Aspinall a fright.

Speaking to Sky Sports after his win, the Englishman said: ‘Have you heard what he did in the practice room? He turned up, tapped me on the back, and he had a Chewbacca mask on.

‘Honest to God, I can’t say it, but I pooed my pants. I was a bit scared. He is a great guy.’

Expanding on the practice room chaos, Aspinall told a press conference: ‘I was really scared, I’m not going to lie.

‘I walked in and some guy’s tapped me on the shoulder, I turned around and I’ve got Chewbacca shouting at me.

‘It was Leonard Gates with this mask on. It was quite terrifying, I’m not going to lie.

‘I think the maddest thing was that we bulled up, I won the bull. He was practicing in a different room and he’s decided to stay on that dartboard for the next 10 minutes, practicing with the Chewbacca mask on. Which I felt was absolutely mental. I actually went up to him and asked if he was playing in that or what?

‘He’s a nice guy, he’s a character. He could have been a tricky opponent, luckily he wasn’t, but I wish him all the best.’

Gates did warn the world that he was going to pull some tricks ahead of taking on the former UK Open and World Matchplay champion.

After his first round win over Mickey Mansell, he said: ‘When we’re in the back room I’m going to follow him round, I’m going to shadow him and going to let him know my hand is in your pocket.

‘I’m going to do something to disturb him and throw him off of his game.’

The Asp only needed an average of 91.76 to secure a whitewash win and was slightly frustrated with his performance, but he intends to step it up after Christmas.

Dutchman Kevin Doets is next for Aspinall, with Hawkeye also dropping just one set so far.

‘I’ve won two games, I’ve dropped one set in two matches and played pretty average,’ said Aspinall. ‘I’ve tried to enjoy my first couple of games on the stage. This crowd…unbelievable. Every time I play here they give me great support and it was amazing again tonight. I want to put a show on but sometimes it’s not that easy.

‘Kevin’s a great player. I’ve not got a very good record against Kevin. I think he knows that because he’s been talking to me in the hotel! I’ll enjoy my Christmas now with my family and I’ll come back and put a show on for these guys because they deserve it.’

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