Damon Heta sent out Alexandra Palace into meltdown on Friday afternoon after he struck a mind-blowing nine-dart finish setting off a ₤ 60,000 payment to a random fan in the crowd at the PDC World Darts Championship.
The sensational minute came throughout his second-round clash versus English player Luke Woodhouse.
But the Australian couldn't ride his momentum, with British darts star, Woodhouse returning from going 3-1 to clinch nine straight legs of darts and advance to the last 16 at the World Darts Championships for the very first time in his profession.
Despite the defeat, Heta will walk away with ₤ 60k in his pocket, following his legendary nine-dart task.
For this year's PDC World Darts Championship, Paddy Power are paying a total of ₤ 180k for every nine-darter scored throughout the competition, with the funds to be divided three ways.
The player who throws the ideal leg will get ₤ 60k, a lucky fan at Alexandra Palace will likewise be handed a ₤ 60k cheque, while the sports betting business are likewise set to contribute ₤ 60k to Prostate Cancer UK, the main Charity partner of the competition.
A fan in the audience who was wearing a yellow trilby hat and a Christamas-themed blazer was chosen as the lucky winner of the huge prize money.
Damon Heta struck a mind-blowing nine-dart finish on Friday afternoon at Alexandra Palace
HEROIC HETA HITS THE NINE! UNBELIEVABLE SCENES! Damon Heta lands the 2nd nine-darter of the tournament to raise the roof at Alexandra Palace! #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/DW6rhvFqez
- PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024
The World No 9 won himself ₤ 60k with the best leg, with Paddy Power also now set to donate another 60k to charity and to a random fan in the crowd at Ally Pally
Hilariously another fan had actually been seen holding a sign behind the male that read Wayne Mardle's iconic 'I can't spake' line, which the legendary darts analyst had said following Michael Smith's nine-darter at the 2023 World Championships.
Paddy Power are also contributing ₤ 1,000 for every 180 thrown throughout this Year's championship as part of their Bigger180 campaign.
Heta's ideal leg was the second nine-dart surface at the tournament. Since today, Paddy Power had actually raised over ₤ 500,000 for charity with 462 180s having actually been struck at the tournament prior to the start of this afternoon's session.
The Australian began inadequately against Woodhouse, with Heta conceding the very first set, being broken by his challenger in the final leg of the first set.
He countered in the 2nd term with an impressive passage of play, racking off 2 180s and the final 141 in design.
The 37-year-old Australian, who hails from Perth, leapt around the stage in jubilation and at one point even appeared to leap off the stage.
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His opponent, Woodhouse, looked simply as delighted as Heta did, leaping up and down on the stage before showing his class, offering the Aussie star a hug and raising his hand in the air to commemorate the spectacular task.
The Brit, 36, has actually been hailed for his response to the moment online, with one fan writing: 'Luke Woodhouse's event after Heta's nine-darter is class.'
Paddy Power later on revealed the gentleman who had actually won the ₤ 60,000 reward pot
The minute one of the audience learnt they were ₤ 60,000 richer pic..com/G0eYn9n2ln
- Sky sports betting Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 27, 2024
Heta (left) and Luke Woodhouse (best) accepted on stage after the epic moment
After Heta had gone a set down in the first exchange, his nine-dart finish saw him recover against his British challenger to draw level at 1-1
'Big props to Luke Woodhouse - he's really buzzing for his mate! Love the sportsmanship and excitement!' another wrote on X.
'The way Luke Woodhousecelebrates Damon Heta's nine-darter and raises his hand afterwards is what makes this sport so great,' one composed.
'The friendship in darts is incredible. Just look at the way Luke Woodhouse, commemorated his opponent's nine-darter previously,' another stated.
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After the match, Woodhouse reviewed the spectacular moment that saw his buddy Heta walk away with ₤ 60k.
'Me and Damo are great friends,' he informed Sky sports betting. 'We play golf together a lot. We hang out and practice a lot ...
'I understand he was gutted when he missed his double twelve in the first video game.
'So, yeah, when he struck that nine-darter the crowd went wild.
'You couldn't not commemorate with him!'
Luke Woodhouse pic.twitter.com/Oza4ZK63yV
- Martin (@martin_kcr) December 27, 2024
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Elated by the spectacular surface, the Australian, who hails from Perth, leapt off the stage in elation
Woodhouse was praised for his response to his opponent's nine-dart surface, with some admiring his 'sportsmanship'
Heta would go on to control in the 3rd set, winning 3-2 and again controling the 4th, breaking his challenger two times.
But Woodhouse, who is ranked No 35 in the world, got better, winning all three final sets to turn things around on his challenger and progress through to the next round.
A visibly psychological Woodhouse stated after the match: 'I'm over the moon.'
'It's not simply me it's my other half, my family and my boy. So [I'm doing] truly great.'
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Aussie Darts Star Damon Heta Hits a NINE-DARTER At Alexandra Palaec
ezracollie942 edited this page 2025-01-02 11:35:29 +08:00