Latest news with #darts
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Nathan Aspinall makes major gaffe during 30C heatwave as he shares embarrassing picture after day of golf
DARTS star Nathan Aspinall was left red faced - literally - amid the ongoing heatwave. An amber heat health alert was issued for the whole of England as Brits are basking in temperatures as high as 33C . 2 2 Aspinall, 33, decided to enjoy the warm weather with a fan round of golf. The Asp took to the green amid high temperatures that reached 30C, but things didn't turn out as well as he hoped. The Stockport native shared a photo showing the toll the bright sun took on him. The thrower might be regretting his hat choice as it left him with a hilarious tan line on his head. Aspinall issued the following caption: "Next time it's 30 degrees, NAH don't wear a hat to play golf lol." Darts fans were left laughing their socks off as they stormed the comments' section. A third wrote: "Those ears will sting." This fan exclaimed: "Damn." And that one posted: "Should have worn a legionaries hat, neck and ears would've been protected."
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘People didn't realise I was really ill' – Darts star, 42, feared he'd never play again after health scare
JAMES WADE feared he'd never play darts again after suffering a string of illnesses. The Aldershot hotshot claimed the Players Championship 19 title after defeating Scott Williams 8-3 in yesterday's final in Leicester. It was Wade's first ranking title since 2022 and the 19th Players Championship Event in his stellar career. 'The Machine' took out a brilliant 110 checkout to take a 4-2 lead against 'Shaggy'. The World No.10 followed this up with a cracking 120 finish to gain a 5-2 advantage over Williams at the Mattioli Arena. Wade, a ten-time major winner, pearled in a ten-darter to go 6-3 up. Wade sealed the deal with another cracking 110 outshout as he averaged 101.52 and pinged in eight out of nine doubles for the victory. Former World Matchplay champ Wade opened up about struggles with his health and how it impacted his career and rankings before making a terrific comeback to the winner's circle. He said: 'It's been a bloody long time that is for sure. 'I'm really pleased and happy. I felt I have just been lucky the last two games. 'Everyone forgets I had pancreatitis. It's a serious health condition and I went from world number three to plummeting down and out of the rankings. 'I just think everyone takes their health for granted. Peter Wright stunned after James Wade farts during game 'The public and probably the organisation didn't realise I was really ill. 'I went from world No3 to 27. It wasn't because my darting ability disappeared, it was because my health disappeared. 'So give me a little bit of a break. 'Today I felt really proud of myself because I've never been a press favourite or an organisation favourite. 'But you know when I've gone against what I've gone against, not knowing if I'm going to play darts again, today is a milestone. 'I've put myself under quite a bit of pressure over the last 12 months so today it has been really nice.' The 42-year-old smashed in two ton plus checkouts to overcome Gian van Veen 6-4 in the quarter-final. Wade hit seven out of 13 doubles to record a routine 7-3 triumph against Andrew Gilding in the last four.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Luke Littler takes next step with new beautician female 'friend' Faith as he celebrates mum's birthday
Luke Littler has taken the next step with his new female friend, Faith, as he celebrated his mum's birthday on social media. The 18-year-old is enduring a rocky period at the oche, suffering a disappointing defeat in the Premier League final last month when he lost against rival Luke Humphries before crashing out of the World Cup in the first round. Littler, ranked No 2 in the world, partnered World No 1 Humphries at the competition in Frankfurt, but was targeted by the crowd from the first dart and suffered a shock defeat against home favourites Germany. Away from darts, though, Littler is enjoying life. Having just signed a brand deal with McDonald's and appearing on Gogglebox, he has struck up a close 'friendship' with 19-year-old beautician Faith. In May, Littler swapped his darts for drinks as he hit the town with Faith and pals, sharing a picture of the group at a table full of beverages in a pink-lit booth in a mystery location, his arm draped around Faith. Now, the darts world champion has shared another snap featuring Faith, as well as eight other people as they appeared to celebrate Lisa Littler's birthday in Spain. Littler shared the post on social media, captioning it: 'Happy birthday mum,' with a love heart emoji, Spanish flag emoji and a sunglasses emoji. Lisa has been one of her son's biggest supporters, often seen at venues to cheer him on in the infancy of his darts career. In February, the Nuke was left furious by a crowd disturbance involving his mum during his walk-on in a Premier League contest in Exeter, which saw Lisa barged by someone else in hospitality. Faith, meanwhile, was seen cheering on the darts sensation at the O2 Arena a the end of last month as he missed out on a stunning £275,000 prize pot in the Premier League final. Faith Millar was spotted on Sky Sports' broadcast during the event - with Millar looking particularly focused next to Lisa and Littler's dad, Anthony Buckley, as Littler battled to get back into the match. Mail Sport revealed that Littler met Faith in February and that the pair were understood to have become almost inseparable since. However, both have been keen to play down the significance of their friendship - insisting emphatically that they are not dating or in a relationship. Millar comes from Wigan, just 15 miles from Luke's home in Warrington, Cheshire. She has already accompanied the world champion to public events including a Q&A session organised by his sponsors BoohooMan in Manchester in March. Eyelash beauty specialist Millar is also believed to have met Littler's parents while visiting the 18-year-old at his mansion. A source told MailOnline: 'Faith and Luke have become firm friends and enjoy one another's company a lot.' The blossoming friendship comes nine months after the world number two split from his previous girlfriend 22-year-old Eloise Milburn last June. At 19, Millar is closer to Luke's own age than Milburn, who was in her twenties when she began dating him while he was just 17 - which saw her face hostility from some online fans, something known to upset both her and Luke. They split before last year's World Championship, though, and Littler has not said he has had a relationship since. Littler has since been much more guarded about making his love life a public spectacle than he was when he very publicly dated Milburn at the same time as he was becoming a public figure thanks to his darts heroics at Ally Pally in December 2023.
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Jockey Zac Spain – ‘Zachariah the Electrifier'
A professional jockey is not your typical darts player stereotype but Zac Spain has mixed with the best of both worlds. Spain, or 'Zachariah the Electrifier' on the competition circuit, has a dream exhibition match-up next month against Shane McGuirk, the reigning WDF world champion. Spain, an avid thrower off the track, won a tournament in March for the shot at McGuirk on July 19 at the St Kilda Sports Club. The 28-year-old tuned up last weekend with solid performance at the three-day DartPlayers Australia event in Albury. 'I was more than competitive, which was good,' dartboard sniper Spain said. 'I made quarter-finals Friday and then I made top 16 in both events Saturday. 'I got knocked out first round Sunday but I had my chances to go further … probably nerves got to me a little bit, to be honest, a little bit of pressure, but I was rapt. 'I wanted to see how I went against the best in Australia and I felt like I held my own.' Group 1 jockey Spain played darts from an early age, followed his father into the sport growing up in the Northern Territory, and made junior representative squads but eventually racing took priority. Spain picked up the arrows again two years ago and now spends about three hours a day behind the oche. 'I love it, something outside of racing,' Spain said. 'Every day I'm not riding, I'm pretty much on the board. 'Even at night, my partner Tyrah is studying at the moment, so when she's downstairs I'm upstairs having a throw on the board.' Spain plays competition darts on Wednesday and Thursday nights respectively in Gladstone Park and Boronia. Spain, who also plays online for fun and bragging rights against brother Adrian, has the social media alter ego, The Darting Jockey, on Instagram and TikTok. The 'Electrifier' nickname is saved for main events only. 'My old man gave me the name when I was younger,' Spain laughed. 'My full name is Zachariah and he used to call me 'Zachariah the Electrifier'. 'I got a shirt made up with the name on the back and I wear it to the bigger events … it's a bit lairy.' Spain has seven rides on Saturday including Losesomewinmore, one of three for leading Adelaide trainers Richard and Chantelle Jolly who recently opened satellite stable at Flemington. 'He's a nice horse, I had a little gallop on him Tuesday and put him through his paces,' Spain said. 'He worked up super.'
The Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Sun
‘Done more in 12 months…' – Luke Littler furiously hits back at former World Darts champion's MBE dig in deleted post
FUMING Luke Littler has slammed darts legend Dennis Priestley for suggesting he does not deserve his MBE. Two-time world champion Priestley, 74, claimed Littler and world No.1 Luke Humphries 'let their country down' following their dismal exit from the PDC World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt 3 3 3 The English pair were red-hot favourites to claim the title on their maiden appearance together but they surprisingly lost to Germany in the quarter-finals. That result came the day after it was announced the two Lukes – the top two in the world – were going to receive recognition in the King's Birthday Honours List. Straight-talking Yorkshireman Priestley said in a chat with a bookmaker that neither player had 'done enough to earn their MBEs just yet '. He added: "When I was playing in pairs with Phil Taylor we practised together and sat together, we played all over the world and I only remember us getting beaten once. 'In time they could've done enough to warrant it but it feels very early. ' Littler has been recognised for raising the popularity of darts which is great but he can still do so much more. 'If he is getting an MBE this soon then you'd have to think he is on the right path to a knighthood, nothing would surprise me now." This jibe angered 18-year-old Littler – the reigning PDC world champion – who posted a short but pointed response on Instagram. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS The Nuke screenshotted an article that contained the quotes and captioned it with his response. He said: 'Don't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did… Being made an MBE shows I've helped 'change face of darts' says Luke Humphries 'That's what I would say anyway.' He has since deleted the post. Littler is the most recognisable figure in the sport and his Instagram account mushroomed to 1.9 million followers shortly after he burst on to the scene in December 2023. His next appearance on the oche will be at the bet365 US Darts Masters, which will be held on June 27-28 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York. Littler, meanwhile, has teamed up with fast food giant McDonald's to launch a brand new burger. The 'Big Arch' is one of five new additions to the McDonald's summer menu launched on Wednesday. Priestley has also offered some advice to Littler relating to the deals he has been handed away from the oche. He said: 'Luke Littler's team needs to shield him from all distractions and make sure he gets all the best advice because he is still so young. "I hope he reads this because my advice would be it's not about how much money you earn now, it's about how much you've kept when your career comes to an end. "He has his head screwed on but the important thing is that the darts remains the priority rather than all the sponsorship deals he keeps being offered."
