PDC Injury Report: Nathan Aspinall Overcomes Dartitis to Top Slovak Open Averages

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) circuit is notoriously unforgiving on the body, with elite players throwing tens of thousands of darts a month in high-pressure environments.[6]

Chronic shoulder, elbow, and wrist injuries frequently derail promising careers, forcing players into early retirement or prolonged slumps as their mechanics break down.[1][2]

Yet the narrative in June 2026 is shifting from attrition to remarkable resilience, headlined by Nathan Aspinall's triumphant performance at the Slovak Darts Open.[1][6]

Aspinall arrived in Bratislava for the ninth European Tour event of the year carrying the weight of well-documented physical and mechanical struggles.[2][6]

Over the past two years, the Stockport native has battled severe bursitis in his elbow, arthritis, and excessive bone growth in his throwing arm, requiring constant medical management.[1][2]

Beyond the physical pain, Aspinall has been fighting "dartitis"—a dreaded psychological and mechanical block that makes releasing the dart incredibly difficult under pressure.[2]

Following a gritty 6-4 victory over Jim Long in his opening match, Aspinall candidly admitted to the crowd that his throw concerns had resurfaced at a difficult point in the season.[2][5]

"Without you guys there at the end I would have lost that, so I owe you all a pint," Aspinall told the audience, earning widespread praise for his vulnerability and honesty.[2]

Rather than folding under the pressure of his mechanical struggles, Aspinall used the crowd's support to fuel one of the most spectacular performances of the year.[1][2]

In his Last 16 matchup against Ryan Searle, Aspinall completely dismantled his opponent with a 6-0 sweep, looking entirely unbothered by his physical ailments.[1]

More impressively, he posted a staggering 108.65 three-dart average, a world-class metric that requires near-perfect precision and timing.[1]

That 108.65 mark stood as the highest single-match average of the entire 2026 Slovak Darts Open, besting Mike De Decker's 107.14 and eventual champion Wessel Nijman's 104.50.[1]

For a player actively managing dartitis and chronic arm pain, producing the tournament's peak statistical performance is a monumental achievement that proves mechanical flaws can be overcome.[1][2]

Aspinall's run was eventually halted in the quarter-finals by Rob Cross, but his weekend in Slovakia served as a powerful proof of concept for players battling similar issues.[1]

Meanwhile, other top stars are taking proactive measures to ensure they don't end up on the injury list at all, prioritizing longevity over short-term gains.[3][4]

Former World Champion Gerwyn Price recently made headlines by withdrawing from the 2026 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, where he was scheduled to represent Wales.[3][4]

Price's sudden withdrawal sparked immediate speculation about a recurring hand injury, especially after he admitted in May that his health was "not in a great place."[3][4]

However, the Welshman quickly set the record straight, confirming on social media that his absence was a strategic decision to protect his long-term physical and mental well-being.[3][4]

Price explained that the relentless professional schedule had worn him down, and he needed to step back to rest and spend quality time with his family.[3][4]

By voluntarily walking away from a lucrative £500,000 tournament, Price highlighted a growing trend of elite players embracing load management, proving that stepping back is sometimes the best way to move forward.[3][4]