“I needed a break,” Aspinall revealed in an interview with Online Darts.
He acknowledged that he had been going through a challenging period recently, citing his disappointing performance at the Grand Prix, where he admitted to not preparing adequately.
He emphasized the age-old adage, “fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” Furthermore, his struggles continued as he faced early exits in Pro Tours and European events, causing a significant blow to his confidence.
Following two consecutive first-round losses at the Pro Tours in Barnsley, Aspinall made the decision to sit out the remaining tournaments of that week. He also opted not to participate in the last two Players Championship tournaments scheduled for early November. Consequently, this choice effectively ruled him out of contention for the Players Championship Finals later in November.
However, the World Matchplay champion offered a unique explanation for his absence. He clarified that he hadn’t given up on his darts career but had chosen to prioritize his partner Kirsty, with whom he had spent 14 years. Kirsty had celebrated her birthday in Minehead for the past decade, and this year marked her 30th birthday.
In light of this milestone, Aspinall decided not to qualify for the tournaments, as he wanted to make her birthday extra special. He acknowledged the sacrifices his family had made for his darts career and emphasized that this decision was a family choice.
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