There was visible frustration from Nathan Aspinall during Players Championship 4, as the Englishman endured a disappointing defeat against Darius Labanauskas.
Aspinall was anything but pleased throughout the encounter and, at one point, could no longer conceal his emotions. Footage from the match showed the former major champion openly venting his frustration after a series of missed opportunities.
Nathan really had to keep his temper in check here pic.twitter.com/An9ULS24f0
— Jeremy (@Jeremy7105) February 17, 2026
Labanauskas Proves a Difficult Opponent Once Again
Labanauskas has long been known as a tricky competitor on the ProTour circuit. His resilience and steady scoring have troubled several high-profile players in the past, including Raymond van Barneveld, who famously suffered a surprise first-round exit against the Lithuanian at the PDC World Darts Championship.
This time, it was Aspinall who fell victim. What will likely frustrate him most is that Labanauskas did not produce an extraordinary performance statistically. The Lithuanian averaged just 86.94 — a figure that suggests Aspinall will feel he had the match within his grasp and may primarily blame himself for the defeat.
Gilding Ends Labanauskas’ Run
In the following round, Labanauskas faced Andrew Gilding. The Lithuanian significantly raised his level, posting a 95.73 average. However, it was not enough to overcome Gilding, who delivered a composed performance with a 98.17 average to secure a narrow 6–5 victory.
Dutch Interest Still Alive
At the time of writing, Dutch players Niels Zonneveld, Wessel Nijman, and Marvin van Velzen remain in contention for a place in the last 16.
Earlier in the series, Players Championship 3 was won by Chris Dobey, while the opening two events were claimed by James Wade and Nijman respectively.
With the ProTour season gathering momentum, drama and high tension continue to define the Players Championship circuit — and Aspinall’s emotional reaction serves as a reminder of just how much these events matter to the sport’s elite competitors.