Aspinall explains new darts ritual that has left his wife raging

The 33-year-old booked his spot in the last eight at Ally Pally for the first time since 2020 after seeing off Ricardo Pietreczko.

Aspinall was not at his scintillating best against in Saturday's clash against Andrew Gilding despite a convincing 4-0 victory.

But it was a different story on Monday in a repeat score against German Pietreczko to book his place in the quarter finals.

Whilst all might appear rosy for Aspinall, his wife Kirsty has taken issue with her husband's appearance.

Aspinall has recently sported a new look beard against the wishes of his partner who is not a fan of his newly-grown facial hair.

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"Kirsty is raging about it, but I'm keeping it until I've won another major," The Asp said.

"I won't let it grow until I look like Santa Claus, and I'll trim it if I have to. But I started growing the beard since before the Players Championship finals at Minehead and it stays until I've won big again."

Kirsty now has extra motivation in cheering on her husband at Ally Pally in hope of a fresh clean shave after the final on Friday 3 January.

A win at the World Championship would see Aspinall add to his two major titles.

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He won the UK Open in 2019 before adding the World Matchplay tournament in 2023, beating Johnny Clayton in the final.

Before he gets too far ahead of himself, Aspinall has a huge task on his hand in overcoming either Luke Littler or Ryan Joyce in the quarter-finals.

The world No.12 is excited at the prospect turning out in the latter stages of the tournament in front of what he expects to be a raucous crowd at Ally Pally.

"It will be electric in there, more of a football vibe than darts," said Aspinall. "But once you have played Michael van Gerwen in Rotterdam or Gezzy (Gerwyn Price) in Cardiff on a Premier League night, everything else is a piece of cake."

Aspinall has reached the semi-finals of the World Championships on two occasions in 2019 and 2020.

Unfortunately for him he was beaten by Michael Smith before losing out to Van Gerwen the following year.