A recap of the thrilling climax to the Ladbrokes UK Open, as Nathan Aspinall hit a 170 checkout to defeat Rob Cross 11-5 in the final.
Main Stage (1900 GMT, ITV 4)
Best of 21 legs
- Gerwyn Price 9-11 Nathan Aspinall
- Rob Cross 11-7 Michael Smith
Final (best of 21 legs)
- Nathan Aspinall 11-5 Rob Cross
Scroll down for leg-by leg reports and stats from all the games plus match highlights
If you thought the climax to the final was special - as well as Nathan Aspinall's epic semi-final with Gerwyn Price earlier in the night - then you'll love his post-match interview!
A perfect way to round off what has been a truly memorable UK Open.
Here's some records Aspinall has broken as a result of his success tonight, which follows his run to the World Championship semi-finals that also earned him £100,000 and his maiden Pro Tour title last September.
- First player ranked outside the top 32 to win a televised ranking event since 2012
- Just the second player in PDC history to win a televised tournament with a 170 finish.
- Become the fastest player to reach the top 16 after winning a Tour Card, which he did in January 2018.
Nathan Aspinall reaction
"I've worked so hard to get this far and to win this title is just a truly amazing feeling. [In 2014] my grandad and I were sat in the crowd and I told him I'm as good as the players up there, and now here I am lifting the trophy on this stage, it's just unreal. I want to thank my family because I'm away a lot so this is for them and I'd like to thank everyone for their support.
"The standard is so tough now, it was a long day for us both and neither Rob nor I played like we can in the final but I'm just so happy to get the win."
Rob Cross reaction
"Full credit to Nathan, he played well but I had nothing left which is a great shame. This tournament was a massive start to my career in 2016 and it was great to play well here in front of this amazing crowd again.
"Unfortunately I came up just short in the final but take nothing away from Nathan, he was pure class all the way through."
Nathan Aspinall wins the UK Open after beating Rob Cross 11-5 in the final!
Incredible drama at the end of a thrilling weekend as Nathan Aspinall wins his maiden major title by landing the biggest checkout of all to complete an 11-5 victory over Rob Cross!
Not only that but the 27-year-old from Stockport, who only earned his Tour Card back at the start of 2018, pockets £100,000 and will now move into the top 16 in the world as he becomes one of the newest superstars of the game.
Aspinall was also 125/1 to lift this prestigious trophy before a dart was thrown this weekend but you won't see him at those prices again! I just hope a few of you out there followed by pre-tournament tips!
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Averages
- Aspinall: 90.28
- Cross: 85.76
180s
Doubles
- Aspinall: 6/14
- Cross: 4/15
Highest Checkouts
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Averages
- Aspinall: 98.62
- Cross: 90.04
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
Leg Five
Another impressive leg from Aspinall as he breaks the Cross throw thanks to four steady scoring visits and a clinical checkout of 77 for a 15-darter. As the music sounds to signal the first interval, he's keen to enjoy his first big final by showing off his dancing moves to the 5,000-strong Main Stage crowd at the Butlin's Minehead Resort.
Aspinall 3-2 Cross
Leg Four
Much better from the Asp as he records his first maximum of the match en route to taking out tops for a 13-darter. He's two from two with his double attempts in these early stages.
Aspinall 2-2 Cross
Leg Three
Neither player are scoring particularly heavy as Cross holds his throw in 18 darts, with Aspinall waiting back on 90 but we must remember both will be jaded after a long day of action.
Aspinall 1-2 Cross
Leg Two
Aspinall found himself in early trouble when an opening visit of 41 was punished by Cross' second 180 of the match but he clawed his way back as Voltage faltered and scrambled the leg in 19 darts.
Aspinall 1-1 Cross
Leg One
Cross blasts out of the blocks with visits of 140, 180 and 100, before taking out 81 for a stunning 12-darter in the opening leg - although Aspinall was also waiting on the same score after three successive 140s.
Aspinall 0-1 Cross
2145: The players have made their way to the stage, but who will leave it with the UK Open trophy in their hands for the first time? Let the drama begin...
2140: Here are the routes to the final in case you can't remember...
ROB CROSS
- Fourth round: 10-4 v Darren Webster (Av: 99.1)
- Fifth round: 10-5 v Mervyn King (Av: 97.1)
- Sixth round: 10-6 Cristo Reyes (Av: 93.5)
- Quarter-finals: 10-7 Josh Payne (Av: 95)
- Semi-finals: 11-7 Michael Smith (Av: 94.2)
NATHAN ASPINALL
- Third round: 6-3 v Toni Alcinas (Av: 97.4)
- Fourth round: 10-9 v Christian Kist (Av: 93.7)
- Fifth round: 10-2 v Madars Razma (Av: 97.8)
- Sixth round: 10-8 Steve Lennon (Av: 90.5)
- Quarter-finals: 10-6 Ross Smith (Av: 96.8)
- Semi-finals: 11-9 Gerwyn Price (Av: 94.31)
2135: Anyone, enough of self praise, here's the all-important head-to-head stats for tonight's final.
- Overall: 3-0
On TV: 1-0 - Meetings
Cross 10-8 Aspinall - UK Open, March 2018
Cross 6-2 Aspinall - Players Championship, October 2017
Cross 6-5 Aspinall - Austrian Darts Qualifier, May 2017 - Career Titles: 5-1 (TV: 2-0)
Titles since start of 2018 : 2-1 (TV: 1-0)
Well, as you can see there's not a lot to go off here, although their only televised meeting was on the UK Open main stage 12 months ago in round three.
2130: I couldn't quite believe my luck to have three of my five pre-tournament tips in the semi-finals, so I'll have to thank the Magic of the FA Cup of darts to have Nathan Aspinall (125/1 each-way) and Rob Cross (18/1 on the nose) in the final.
Rob Cross defeats Michael Smith 11-7 to reach the UK Open final!
Rob Cross has reached his first major ranking final since winning the 2018 world title with an 11-7 victory over Michael Smith - and he'll now meet Nathan Aspinall!
It may not have been the most compelling of matches as both players struggled to produce their best form apart from the four 100+ checkouts, but ultimately it was more clinical finishing from Cross that proved to be the difference.
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Averages
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
.
Averages
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
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Averages
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
.
Averages
- Price: 93.76
- Aspinall: 92.14
180s
Doubles
- Price: 6/17
- Aspinall: 9/17
Highest Checkouts
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Averages
- Price: 92.13
- Aspinall: 92.28
180s
Doubles
- Price: 3/13
- Aspinall: 7/15
Highest Checkouts
Leg 10
Price opens this leg up with two treble 20s and an unfortunate bounce out but two more 100+ visits help him on his way to a 16-darter - although not before a 10th missed dart at a double in the match. His usual scoring power has deserted him too.
Price 3-7 Aspinall
Leg Nine
Aspinall can afford a miss at the bullseye for a 112 checkout as he returns to take out 20 for a commanding 7-2 lead. Just four more legs required against the below-par Price for a place in his first TV final.
Price 2-7 Aspinall
Leg Eight Don't rule out Price, especially after he came back from a big deficit against the talented Jamie Hughes in the fifth round on Saturday afternoon. Here he throws his first 180 before recovering from another three missed darts at doubles to get his second leg on the board.
Price 2-6 Aspinall
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Averages
- Price: 89.34
- Aspinall: 91.44
180s
Doubles
Highest Checkouts
Leg Five
The underdog is flying at the moment as he follows up his visit of 140 with a clinical checkout from 48 to complete a 14-dart hold, with Price waiting back on 108.
Price 1-4 Aspinall
Leg Four
It's a third successive break of throw in this match as Aspinall backs up visits of 177 and 134 en route to an 15-darter - but it could have been finished in the previous visit had he pinned his attempt at double 18 for a 110 checkout.
Price 1-3 Aspinall
Leg Three
Both players are averaging in the low 90s in this cagey opening semi-final but Price follows up visits of 174 and 128 to take out 56 for a 14-dart break of throw.
Price 1-2 Aspinall
Leg Two
After failing to hit the bullseye when attempting to take out a 167 checkout, the Welshman spurns another two darts at a double, with Aspinall making him pay on two 10s to seize an early break.
Price 0-2 Aspinall
Leg One
It's a nervy start from both players as Aspinall takes advantage of Price missing two darts from double tops to finally finish off a 20-dart opening leg.
Price 0-1 Aspinall
1910: The players are making their way to the stage so let the drama begin.
1900: Let's now take a closer look at the first semi-final between (ahem, two of my each-way tips!) Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price, starting with their head to head records.
Obviously Price bosses the head-to-head record but in their only televised meeting at the World Championship, Aspinall came out on top with a little help from the crowd! However, a lot has changed since then in regards to Price's popularity.
Scroll down for their routes to the semi-finals...
ROUTES TO THE SEMI-FINAL
NATHAN ASPINALL
- Third round: 6-3 v Toni Alcinas (Av: 97.4)
- Fourth round: 10-9 v Christian Kist (Av: 93.7)
- Fifth round: 10-2 v Madars Razma (Av: 97.8)
- Sixth round: 10-8 Steve Lennon (Av: 90.5)
- Quarter-finals: 10-6 Ross Smith (Av: 96.8)
GERWYN PRICE
- Fourth round: 10-6 v Joe Cullen (Av: 96.2)
- Fifth round: 10-3 v Krzysztof Ratajski (Av: 101.4)
- Sixth round: 10-7 Jamie Hughes (Av: 105.7)
- Quarter-finals: 10-5 Simon Stevenson (Av: 102.2)
1850: I don't like to blow my trumpet but I did tip Cross at 18/1, Price at 20/1 each-way and Aspinall at 125/1 each-way in my pre-tournament preview so even the worst case scenario of Smith defeating Price in the final will mean nobody has lost money!
1845: Man of the moment Gerwyn Price, who won back-to-back Players Championship events last weekend, is now the 7/4 favourite to lift his second major TV title following his unpopular triumph in last November's Grand Slam of Darts final against Gary Anderson - but the way he's been playing of late, they'll be no jeers tonight.
The Iceman is really starting to win the fans round and his road to redemption has firmly gathered pace this weekend with three 100+ averages and a host of big 100+ checkouts, including a 164 in his win over Stevenson earlier today and two 161s in a stunning comeback against Jamie Hughes on Saturday.
He'll meet 6/1 outsider Nathan Aspinall in the first of tonight's semi-finals, which is of course a repeat of that epic World Championship clash in which the crowd roared the Stockport youngster on for a 3-2 triumph from 2-0 down.
Next in the betting behind Price at 9/4 is the walking wounded Michael Smith, who continues to make a mockery of the pain he's suffering from the emergency surgery he had on Monday to remove an abscess from his leg.
He doesn't look comfortable at the oche in terms of his movement but his performances have been surperb, winning his last two matches against Jermaine Wattimena and Steve Beaton in a combined time that equates less to one half of a football match!
Bully Boy will take on 11/4 third favourite Cross in the second semi-final and you have to say Voltage needs to turn up the heat from his last two performances if he's going to reach his first major ranking final since winning the world title at the start of 2018.
1830: Good evening and welcome to our live blog from the climax of the Ladbrokes UK Open, which all started on Friday when odds-on favourite Michael van Gerwen and defending champion Gary Anderson crashed out at their first hurdles.
Now it's down to Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross, Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall as they battle it out to life the trophy for the first time in their careers.
They all booked their places in the last four pretty comfortably this afternoon, with Cross defeating Josh Payne 10-7, Smith thrashing Steve Beaton 10-1, Price ending the unlikely run of Simon Stevenson 10-5 and Aspinall despatching another surprise quarter-finalist Ross Smith 10-6.
