Nathan Aspinall opened up about competing with dartitis and considered quitting the sport just five weeks ago, having secured his first Premier League win in an epic comeback over Luke Humphries. The Manchester arrowsmith, in his home venue, was 3-0 down to the world No. 1 but reeled off five legs in a row before getting over the line in a 6-4 thriller.

He leapfrogged Michael van Gerwen into the play-off positions on an impressive and emotional night for the 33-year-old. He bravely opened up on his recent struggles that even caused him to question his future in darts.

Dartitis is a mental condition where the brain stops a player from being able to release a dart, similar to the yips, and has plagued many top darts players such as Aspinall over the years.

"I spoke to Wayne (Mardle) before and I have got a few issues and, yeah, I've got a few issues and sometimes it doesn't look pretty on TV or whatever but I found a way to cope with it," the Asp said in his on-stage interview. "It affects me, but I'm winning and I'm winning tournaments and it's one of them, either quit and give up and go home or you own it and you make it part of the game and that's what I've decided to do.

"And you know what? I'm so happy. I'm in a really good place. I'm winning. And tonight, you know what? Five weeks ago. Well, I was really struggling. I said to Kirsty [Aspinall's wife]. I can't be doing this anymore And then the last three weeks he proved why I'm still playing that because I'm one of the best players in the world.

"I've been through absolute horrendous two years. I'm a fighter, I'm a warrior. People call me a Jack Russell and I think that's why I'm here. But I don't know when I'm beaten. I will never ever give up and these last three weeks have proved why.

"The Premier League always brings the best out of me. I'm a very very lazy boy at home. I don't practice so every single Thursday night I'm playing the best players in the world and it's only going to improve my game and that's what it's done."

And Aspinall claims to have even predicted that he would reach the final, before going one further and taking top prize at the AO Arena.

"I've had a fantastic couple of weeks and I said to my psychologist and hypnotherapist I feel like I'm going get to the final and I made the final and it wasn't a pretty game in the final.

"I have never ever, even when to play for the World Matchplay title I have never been so nervous on them last darts ever because I'm in Manchester. Absolutely unreal! I wanted to win it so much for the crowd. I've got all my family all my friends there so many people support me tonight.

"I feel I should be in the Premier League. Everyone knows it deep down why the put me in the Premier League and I have proved my worth - it's made me a better player. I think I proved that the last three weeks. I've been in my opinion one of the best players in the world in the last three or four weeks.

"When I'm a confident player, when I'm scoring well, there's not many people in the world of darts that can beat me. I'm going to take so much confidence from this."