Nathan Aspinall celebrated his third European Tour title of the campaign with a battling 8-6 victory against Dirk van Duijvenbode in Sunday’s Elten Safety Shoes German Darts Championship final.

Aspinall performed magnificently throughout the weekend to cement top spot on the European Tour rankings, adding to wins in Göttingen and Leverkusen with a German hat-trick in Hildesheim.

The Stockport star was superb from start to finish at Halle 39, kicking off his campaign with averages of 103 and 107 in wins over Maximilian Czerwinski and Ross Smith respectively.

Aspinall maintained that sparkling form on Finals Day, producing a magnificent 110 average to dispatch Steve Lennon, before overcoming Dutch duo Jermaine Wattimena and Gian van Veen in the latter stages.

Following a 6-4 success against Wattimena in the last eight, Aspinall reeled off four straight legs from 6-3 adrift to stun Van Veen, landing seven 180s as he completed a stirring semi-final fightback.

Aspinall then locked horns with another in-form Dutchman in Sunday’s showpiece, with Van Duijvenbode eyeing a maiden European Tour title in front of a captivated German crowd.

Van Duijvenbode produced a magical nine-darter on Day One in Hildesheim and he threatened to repeat the feat in leg two of the contest, firing in seven perfect darts before settling for a ten-dart hold.

There was nothing to separate the pair after four high-quality legs, but Aspinall stole a march midway through proceedings, reeling off three consecutive legs in 14, 13 and 14 darts to establish daylight.

Aspinall then stretched his lead to 6-2 with a fabulous 121 combination in leg eight, only for Van Duijvenbode to respond with a four-leg burst of his own to restore parity at six apiece.

However, Aspinall regained control with a crucial hold of throw in leg 13, which he backed up with a clinical 74 finish on tops to round off this year’s European Tour season in style.

“I took a 6-2 lead but Dirk did to me what I do to a lot of players – he came back fighting,” reflected Aspinall, who averaged 101 across the tournament.

“I’ve really enjoyed this weekend, I enjoyed that final and I’m very happy to win my third title.

“I think it’s been an amazing weekend of darts. I’m the number one seed going into the European Championship, and this has given me another huge confidence boost.”

Aspinall now joins Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright, Luke Humphries and Dave Chisnall as only the fifth player to win three European Tour titles in the same calendar year - an exclusive club he's proud to be part of.

“I’m in very good company," continued the 34-year-old, who will take on Rob Cross at next week's European Championship.

"These are very, very tough days. It took me ten years to win my first one, but I’ve found the formula now.

“It’s been a difficult few months since the World Matchplay, but I’ve been working hard at home, and I’m really happy to win another tournament.”

Despite missing out on the £30,000 top prize, Van Duijvenbode produced a series of heroic performances to secure a spot in his third European Tour final – and a first since June 2023.

Having hit a maiden big stage nine-darter in his opening round win over Karel Sedlacek, the Dutchman posted a staggering 117.74 average to topple Chris Dobey and reach Sunday’s final stages.

Van Duijvenbode then recorded deciding-leg wins over German number one Martin Schindler and reigning champion Peter Wright to reach the last four, where he swept aside Krzysztof Ratajski 7-3.

Ratajski’s run to the semi-finals confirmed his European Championship qualification, as Poland’s number one defeated Felix Springer, Ryan Searle, Ryan Joyce and Dave Chisnall across the weekend.

Van Veen also impressed in his run to the last four, demolishing third seed Jonny Clayton 6-1, before averaging north of 105 in quarter-final victory against his World Cup partner Danny Noppert.

Noppert overturned a 4-0 deficit to deny Gerwyn Price in Sunday’s opening tie, as the World Grand Prix semi-finalist featured in the quarter-finals alongside Wattimena, Wright and Chisnall.

Wattimena averaged 111 in a sensational Round Three victory over his compatriot Wessel Nijman, while Wright and Chisnall also enjoyed a timely return to form on the big stage.