Nathan Aspinall has shared which two players he didn’t want to draw in the first round of the World Matchplay.
The draw for the major was made earlier today and as the defending champion, The Asp was hoping to receive a kind first opponent.
In drawing Luke Woodhouse he’s perhaps got a decent draw but ultimately any player who has qualified for the tournament is in good form.
The World Matchplay sees the world’s top 16 players join the top 16 on the Order of Merit at Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
The draw has thrown out some remarkable ties and Saturday week can’t come around soon enough for the action to get underway.
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Nathan Aspinall picks two players he didn’t want to draw at the World Matchplay
Well, it’s fair to say that last year’s winner is rather relieved after drawing Woodhouse who crept in through the back door somewhat.
Luke Littler has remarkably drawn number two seed Michael van Gerwen, whilst Michael Smith – a good friend of Aspinall’s – has drawn Gary Anderson.
Aspinall is relieved that he’s not been so unlucky to draw a top player and has been discussing his draw.
He told the PDC on YouTube: “I think everybody that’s in the Matchplay are there are on merit so it’s going to be tough.
“You’ve got to be honest though and say that I could have drawn Gary, I could have drawn Luke, so I’ve got to take it, it’s not Littler I thought that’s who I’d get.
“It’s a great draw, there’s some fantastic ties there.”
Aspinall may struggle to win World Matchplay this year
As one of the world’s best players, this might sound a strange thing to say but Aspinall isn’t fit.
He has already announced that after the World Matchplay, he will be taking some time out of tournaments to recover from an elbow problem.
As a result, he will have to go some way to replicate last year’s run which saw him oust Jonny Clayton 18-6 in the final at Winter Gardens.
Still, he will fancy his chances against Woodhouse in the first round and then it might depend on how things hold up for him in the way of his elbow.
Given his fitness issues, it’s no surprise that Aspinall didn’t want to draw Littler or Anderson.
Now he has a week to rest his elbow, get some practice in and prepare to try and replicate his greatest night as a professional player.