English darts pro Nathan Aspinall is aiming for the title for the first time at World Matchplay.
The two-time World Cup semi-finalist beat compatriot Joe Cullen 17-9 in the semi-finals in Blackpool’s famous Winter Gardens on Saturday night.
On Sunday (9 p.m.) the 32-year-old will face Jonny Clayton from Wales or England’s Luke Humphries in the final of the second most important tournament of the year.
So there will definitely be a new winner. The big favorites had already fallen by the wayside in the previous rounds. Defending champion Michael van Gerwen failed at the start. World champions Michael Smith, Peter Wright and Gerwyn Price had to leave in the round of 16.
The two German participants, World Cup semi-finalists Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler, failed in the first round in the Empress Ballroom.
The World Matchplay, held since 1994, is the oldest and most important tournament of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) alongside the World Championship.