Nathan Aspinall says the crowd at the first-ever Saudi Arabia Darts Masters felt unusual, suggesting not everyone in attendance chose to be there on their own.
The two-day event in Riyadh is part of the World Series of Darts and features stars such as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen. It is being played in a small 1,000-seat venue and follows Saudi Arabia’s strict no-alcohol rules.
Aspinall said the atmosphere was “different” from traditional darts events and admitted there is still “a long way to go” before the PDC can build a long-term relationship in the country. However, he added that the crowd was larger than expected and appeared to enjoy the action.
Darts is known for lively, noisy fans, but Aspinall said the Saudi crowd was quieter and still learning the rules. Despite that, he said he enjoyed the experience and hopes the tournament helps grow interest in the sport.
Saudi Arabia continues to host major sporting events, including Formula 1, golf and the 2034 men’s football World Cup, although the country has faced criticism over human rights.
Aspinall won his first-round match and will play Man Lok Leung in the quarter-finals, while other stars also progressed.
