Nathan Aspinall completes European Tour hat-trick at the German Darts Championship

Nathan Aspinall secured his third European Tour title of the year at the German Darts Championship with an 8-6 victory over Dirk van Duijvenbode in the final in Hildesheim.

Aspinall joined an elite group of only five players to win three European Tour titles in a calendar year as he triumphed at Halle 39, denying Van Duijvenbode his first Euro Tour silverware.

The Stockport star began his campaign with averages of 103 and 107 in victories over Maximilian Czerwinski and Ross Smith respectively.

He maintained that blistering run of form on Sunday, registering a magnificent 110 average to see off Steve Lennon 6-2 in the Last 16, before overcoming Dutch duo Jermaine Wattimena and Gian van Veen 6-4 and 7-6 to book his place in the final.

Aspinall reeled off four straight legs from 6-3 down to stun Van Veen, landing seven 180s as he completed a superb semi-final comeback after also trailing 4-0.

Van Duijvenbode had produced a magical nine-darter in his opening round win on Friday, and he threatened to repeat the feat in leg two of the final, firing in seven perfect darts before settling for a ten-darter.

There was nothing to separate the pair after four high-quality legs, but Aspinall stole a march midway through proceedings, reeling off three consecutive legs in 14, 13 and 14 darts to establish daylight.

Aspinall then stretched his lead to 6-2 with a clinical 121 checkout, but only for Van Duijvenbode to respond with a four-leg burst of his own to restore parity at six apiece.

However, Aspinall regained control with a crucial hold of throw in leg 13, which he backed up with a 74 finish on tops to round off this year’s European Tour campaign in style.

“I took a 6-2 lead but Dirk did to me what I do to a lot of players – he came back fighting,” said Aspinall, who averaged 101 across the tournament.

“I’ve really enjoyed this weekend, I enjoyed that final and I’m very happy to win my third title.

“I think it’s been an amazing weekend of darts. I’m the number one seed going into the European Championship, and this has given me another huge confidence boost.”

Aspinall now joins Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright, Luke Humphries and Dave Chisnall as the fifth player to win three European Tour titles in the same calendar year, and added: “I’m in very good company.

“These are very, very tough days. It took me ten years to win my first one, but I’ve found the formula now.

“It’s been a difficult few months since the World Matchplay, but I’ve been working hard at home, and I’m really happy to win another tournament.”

Despite missing out on the £30,000 top prize, Van Duijvenbode produced a series of heroic performances to secure a spot in his third European Tour final – and a first since June 2023.

Having landed a maiden big stage nine-darter in his first round win over Karel Sedlacek, the Dutchman posted a staggering 117.7 average to topple Chris Dobey and reach the Last 16.

Van Duijvenbode then sealed deciding-leg wins over German number one Martin Schindler and reigning champion Peter Wright to reach the semi-finals – where he swept aside Krzysztof Ratajski 7-3.

Ratajski’s run to the semi-finals confirmed his European Championship qualification, as Poland’s number one defeated Felix Springer, Ryan Searle, Ryan Joyce and Dave Chisnall across the weekend.

Van Veen also impressed in his run to the semis, demolishing third seed Jonny Clayton 6-1, before averaging 105 in quarter-final victory over his World Cup partner Danny Noppert.

Noppert overturned a 4-0 deficit to stun Gerwyn Price in Sunday’s opening tie, as the World Grand Prix semi-finalist featured in the quarter-finals alongside Wattimena, Wright and Chisnall.

Wattimena averaged 111 in a sensational Round Three victory over his compatriot Wessel Nijman, while Wright and Chisnall also enjoyed a timely return to form on the big stage.

German Darts Championship 2025 Day Three Results

Sunday October 19

Afternoon Session

Last 16
Gerwyn Price 5-6 Danny Noppert
Jonny Clayton 1-6 Gian van Veen
Steve Lennon 2-6 Nathan Aspinall
Jermaine Wattimena 6-2 Wessel Nijman
Cameron Menzies 4-6 Peter Wright
Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-5 Martin Schindler
Ricky Evans 2-6 Dave Chisnall
Ryan Joyce 2-6 Krzysztof Ratajski

Evening Session

Quarter-Finals
Danny Noppert 3-6 Gian van Veen
Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
Peter Wright 5-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Dave Chisnall 5-6 Krzysztof Ratajski

Semi-Finals
Nathan Aspinall 7-6 Gian van Veen
Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-3 Krzysztof Ratajski

Final
Nathan Aspinall 8-6 Dirk van Duijvenbode