London - Following the Christmas break, the World Darts Championship kicked off with exhilarating fervor, highlighted by the remarkable performance of Australian player Damon Heta. Heta delivered the tournament's second nine-dart finish during his third-round match against England's Luke Woodhouse, igniting the crowd at Alexandra Palace.
Despite this impressive feat, Heta was unable to secure victory, eventually losing to Woodhouse with a score of 4-3. Heta, ranked ninth globally, started strong but struggled to maintain momentum as the match progressed, leading to his upset exit from the competition.
From the onset, the match was intensely competitive. Woodhouse managed to clinch the first set, applying early pressure on Heta, who rallied back to win the second set and delivered his stunning nine-darter shortly thereafter. This perfect leg saw Heta reduce his score from 501 to zero with just nine darts, marking one of the highest achievements possible in the sport and leaving both players ecstatic.
“The best reaction to any nine-darter of all time,” proclaimed Heta post-match, highlighting the mutual respect and elation shared between him and Woodhouse after the extraordinary display, demonstrating the camaraderie often seen among players.
After Heta's nine-dart moment, he quickly took control of the match, securing the third set, but Woodhouse proved to be formidable. At one point, Heta led the match with a 3-1 advantage, but Woodhouse's performance surged as he fought back, winning the subsequent three sets decisively.
There was palpable tension as the match approached its final stages; Heta, though initially dominant, faced increasing difficulties. Despite holding a promising lead, he failed to check out on various attempts, allowing Woodhouse to capitalize. Woodhouse's composure under pressure became evident as he took the fifth set 3-1 before sweeping the final two sets with scores of 3-0.
Heta's nine-dart finish and his solid play throughout the match earned him plaudits and respect, but it was the financial incentive of the perfect game, valued at £60,000, which weighed heavily on him afterward. He humorously lamented, “60 thousand pounds... I could've bought myself something nice,” referencing his prior near-miss at achieving this feat earlier.
Despite the disappointment, Heta, finishing the match with an average of 89.69, walked away with £85,000 from the tournament, still feeling proud of his performance but regretting the lost opportunity.
Woodhouse's victory was historic for him as well; having entered the match as the underdog, he raised his stakes significantly with this win, and now faces either Madars Razma or Stephen Bunting for advancement to the quarter-finals.
“I turned it around and couldn't believe my luck,” Woodhouse said after the match, showing humility and excitement for what lies ahead. His unwavering determination throughout the match turned what had seemed like a promising start for Heta on its head, showcasing the unpredictable nature of professional darts.
This tournament marks another chapter for players like Heta and Woodhouse, with both demonstrating skill on one of the sport’s biggest stages. It highlighted the importance of not just talent but mental toughness and the ability to recover and adapt mid-game.
Looking forward, the stakes are high as Woodhouse continues his quest for the championship, and fans remain eager to see how the tournament will play out, especially with other major names like Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries scheduled to compete later.
