Nathan Aspinall reveals 'biggest passion' as he sides with Luke Humphries in debate

He is one of the best darts players in the world but snooker is Nathan Aspinall’s biggest sporting passion. The former World Matchplay champion will be glued to the World Championship, which begins this weekend.

He will be rooting for Judd Trump as he chases a second Crucible crown. However, you won’t see the Asp at any darts and snooker collaboration events as his ability on the baize is, in his own words, “pants”.

“I absolutely love my snooker,” said the 33-year-old, who will be in Premier League darts action in Rotterdam on Thursday after winning the Manchester night last week.

“That and golf are two of my biggest passions. I’m just absolutely s**** at snooker! I just can’t get good at it. I try and try. I do play a lot, I’m just pants at it. In fact, I’m getting worse. The more I play, the worse I get!

“I’ve been asked to do a collab with some of the snooker players but I don’t want to make an idiot of myself. I don’t like it live. I went to watch it live last year and didn’t think much of it. I prefer watching it on tele. It’s a big passion, I love it. Judd Trump is my favourite player.”

As for the long-running nine-darter versus 147-break debate, Aspinall can see both sides of the argument but was swayed by Luke Humphries’ verdict after the world No.1’s run-in with Shaun Murphy.

Aspinall said: “I always used to say the 147 [was harder] until Luke Humphries reworded it, [saying], ‘What’s harder as a professional to do?’ I think as an amateur, the 147 is harder. But I agree with what Humphries said. If you’re a professional, a nine-darter is harder.”

Murphy is the perennial pot-stirrer in the debate after claiming to have completed the unique treble of a nine-darter and a hole-in-one, as well as numerous maximum breaks.

The Magician annoyed Humphries during Paddy Power's Perfect Challenge, a charity event involving stars from both sports, at the end of last year. Giving his opinion on the debate, the 2024 world champion said: "I think if you're an amateur - you don't play snooker, you don't play golf, you don't play darts - you give them a snooker cue, some darts and a golf club…

"I think they'd do the hole-in-one first, the nine-darter second and then the 147 last. I think that would be harder. But to a professional, I think a nine-darter is harder than a 147."

After overhearing, Murphy couldn't help but retort with a light-hearted jab, saying: "I didn't know you were a comedian too."

Humphries fired back: "What's funny about that? Did you hear what I said, though? When you know all the angles... You've seen you two - Mark's [Williams] come close [to a maximum] already.

"That's my opinion. When you're a professional, you make it look easy to hit a 147. Stats show it too. In frames and legs of darts, there are more 147s than nine-darters."