I feel like they [the crowd] weren't all there of their own accord, shall we say, and it was quite a small venue. In a statement, a spokesperson for the PDC told BBC Sport the organisation was "delighted to see such strong interest" in the Saudi event, and Aspinall's comments were "reflecting on the fact that this was a first-of-its-kind darts event in the region". Saudi Arabia has staged many major sports events in recent years, including Formula 1 and golf, and will host the men's football World Cup in 2034. Darts is known for its boisterous crowds but with the Saudi event being free of alcohol, Aspinall said the atmosphere "was different" before adding, "but you know what, I enjoyed it. Whenever I looked out into the crowd, you could actually tell they were watching it".

Source: BBC January 20, 2026 14:12 UTC