NATHAN ASPINALL has urged the PDPA to step in and protect darts players amid what he believes is a growing mental health crisis in the sport.
The two-time major winner, who has previously spoken openly about his own struggles, says he has worked hard to ensure he never reaches that dark place again.
World No15 Aspinall, who faces Leonard Gates in round two of the Worlds, believes he can now spot the warning signs in others, having lived through it himself.
Aspinall admits the modern game bears little resemblance to the sport he grew up in.
He said: “I don’t think I would let it do that again. I’ve been in that situation before and it is tough and brutal.
“I think I have now trained my brain and I’ve done a lot of work with a lot of people. The people that I have worked with won’t let it get to that state.
“There is a lot of it going on in darts at the moment. I see it before they see it because I have been through it.
“The PDPA now need to step in and help these guys because there are a lot of guys suffering. There has never been more pressure on dart players.
“We are no longer dart players. So many people look up to us nowadays. There is so much pressure on us.
“It has gone from dart players in the pub drinking and making a few quid. We are elite sportsmen.”
‘The Asp’ fears the consequences if players are not given the right support.
He added: “There is so much pressure on people and that can affect you. It affected me. I’ve seen it first-hand so many times with so many people.
“I’m just hoping now there are two or three people that the PDPA reach out to and look after, because there are a lot of fantastic dart players in our sport.
“It would be a shame to see so many of them go because of mental health.”
Aspinall powered into round two at the World Championship with a 3–1 victory over Lourence Ilagan, averaging 94.01 and landing a stunning 170 checkout on the way to victory.
The 34-year-old reckons he is playing with complete freedom again after overcoming injury and psychological problems that once threatened his career.
‘I’ve never played better’
He continued: “I’ve never played better. My confidence has never been higher. My head has never been better.
“This is the first time in years I’ve come into this tournament without an injury, without dartitis, without any issues in my head. I’m just Nathan as a darts player.
“I was sat at home counting the days down until I got the train to London. It felt like a lifetime.
“If you don’t believe you can win the World Championship, what are you doing playing in it?.
“That’s not arrogance — that’s belief. Two years ago I didn’t think I’d ever play darts at this level again.
“Then I get into the Premier League, make the semi-finals, make finals, win titles, and I’m back in the top 12 in the world.”
