Nathan Aspinall echoes criticism surrounding Littler respect: “I’ve got to remember that I’m there to win”
Nathan Aspinall has addressed the growing conversation around the perceived over-friendliness toward darts sensation Luke Littler, admitting that he, too, may have shown the young star too much respect during their matches.
The response comes after recent comments by Vincent van der Voort, who criticized what he called a wave of “fanboys” on the PDC Tour treating Littler more like a celebrity than a competitor. Speaking on the Dutch podcast Darts Draait Door, van der Voort suggested that too many players are quick to offer smiles and fist bumps to the reigning world champion, rather than approaching matches with a killer instinct.
“Some players show up like the perfect son-in-law,” van der Voort said, “but that doesn’t make for very exciting darts.”
Aspinall, currently ranked No. 8 in the world, acknowledged the criticism during an interview with talkSPORT.
“To be fair, they were right at the World Championship—I was a bit too respectful,” said the two-time major champion. “I’ve known Luke since he was 11 or 12. I’m genuinely happy for what he’s accomplished. He’s a great kid. But at the end of the day, I’ve got to remember I’m there to win.”
Despite the competitive edge he wants to maintain, Aspinall had nothing but praise for how Littler has handled the pressure of his rapid rise.
“I’ve said it many times—I don’t think I could’ve coped with what he’s going through. And I consider myself mentally strong,” he said. “At 17 or 18, managing all the media commitments and appearing on all these shows… it’s a lot. We’re not media-trained like footballers.”
“He’s been thrown into the deep end and handled it brilliantly. He does get a lot of respect—and he absolutely deserves it.”
Aspinall’s comments reflect a growing tension on the tour between admiration and competition. As Littler continues to dominate headlines and highlight reels, fellow players may now be rethinking their approach when facing him on stage
