Nathan Aspinall will make his World Series debut in July's US Masters

Aspinall sealed his maiden PDC major title at the UK Open in Minehead last month.

By Josh Gorton

Image: Aspinall's UK Open triumph catapulted him into the world's top 16

Nathan Aspinall will make his World Series debut in July's US Masters after the field of competitors for this year's international events were confirmed.

It's been a stunning rise to prominence for the Stockport youngster, who followed up his brilliant run to the World Championship semi-finals by winning the UK Open in Minehead last month, defeating Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross en route.

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Aspinall also featured as a 'Contender' in this year's Premier League and now he will appear on the global stage after being confirmed as one of the eight PDC competitors for July's US Darts Masters in Las Vegas - the first of this year's five international events on the World Series circuit.

'The Asp' will join reigning champion Gary Anderson, World No 1 Michael van Gerwen and the Premier League quintet of Rob Cross, Peter Wright, Daryl Gurney, Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith in competing at the Mandalay Bay Resort on July 4-5, with eight North American qualifiers also set to feature.

Then all roads lead to Europe, as Mensur Suljovic returns to defend his German Darts Masters crown on July 12-13 for the third staging of the event.

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Image: Van Barneveld has been included in the line-up for the German Darts Masters

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld and World Series holder James Wade will join Van Gerwen, Cross, Anderson, Gurney and Wright in competing at the LANXESS Arena in Cologne, where they will take on eight of Germany's leading stars.

Germany's World Cup pairing of Max Hopp and Martin Schindler headline the list of home favourites, alongside Superleague qualifiers Gabriel Clemens, Nico Kurz, Kevin Munch, Robert Marijanovic, Christian Bunse and Maik Langendorf.

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The World Series then heads down under in August with an Oceanic treble-header. Cross defends his Brisbane Darts Masters title in the first of two events in Australia, before Wright bids to retain his Melbourne Darts Masters crown.

Image: Van Gerwen, Anderson, Cross, Wright and Gurney will feature in all five events

The pair will be joined in all three of August's events by Van Gerwen, Anderson and Gurney as well as the Australian trio of Simon Whitlock, Kyle Anderson and the returning Corey Cadby.

Meanwhile, New Zealand's number one Cody Harris has been selected to compete in the NZ Darts Masters, with Hamilton's Claudelands Arena hosting a World Series of Darts event for the first time on August 23-24.

Following the five international tournaments, Amsterdam's AFAS Live will host the season-ending World Series of Darts Finals from November 1-3, with Wade expected to defend his title.

What comes next? Night 11 - April 11 M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Rob Cross vs Peter Wright
Gerwyn Price vs Mensur Suljovic
James Wade vs Daryl Gurney
Michael Smith vs Michael van Gerwen

2019 US Darts Masters- July 4-5, Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas
PDC Competitors:
Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Daryl Gurney, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Nathan Aspinall

2019 German Darts Masters - July 12-13, LANXESS Arena, Cologne
PDC Competitors:
Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Daryl Gurney, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Mensur Suljovic, James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld
German Competitors: Max Hopp, Martin Schindler, Gabriel Clemens, Nico Kurz, Kevin Munch, Robert Marijanovic, Christian Bunse, Maik Langendorf

2019 Brisbane Darts Masters - August 9-10, BCEC, Brisbane
Confirmed Players:
Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Daryl Gurney, Simon Whitlock, Kyle Anderson, Corey Cadby

2019 Melbourne Darts Masters - August 16-17, The Melbourne Arena
Confirmed Players:
Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Daryl Gurney, Simon Whitlock, Kyle Anderson, Corey Cadby

2019 NZ Darts Masters - August 23-24, Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
Confirmed Players: Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Daryl Gurney, Simon Whitlock, Kyle Anderson, Corey Cadby, Cody Harris

The Premier League continues as we head to the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Thursday, April 11. You can also stay up to date with all the action by following us @SkySportsDarts and get all the latest news, previews and interviews sky.mnosports.com/darts

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