Luke Woodhouse couldn’t contain his excitement as he celebrated his friend Damon Heta’s astonishing nine-darter during their Paddy Power World Darts Championship clash at Alexandra Palace. The match, held the day after Christmas, saw Heta deliver one of the tournament's standout moments, captivating the audience and delivering his second perfect leg of darts of the event.
The contest proved to be thrilling from the outset. After Woodhouse leveled the score at 1-1, Heta electrified the Alexandra Palace crowd by nailing nine consecutive darts, leading to wild applause and cheers. This impressive feat gave Heta—known for his dramatic performances—a commanding 3-1 lead over Woodhouse. Yet, the 36-year-old English player's resilience shone through as he executed a remarkable comeback, winning the match 4-3 and securing his place in the fourth round for the first time.
Reflecting on this unique moment, Woodhouse told Sky Sports, “I have no words at all. I don’t think it was the greatest game in the world but I managed to come through it. Onto the next round.” His modesty veiled the exhilarating highs of the match; Heta's nine-darter not only thrilled fans but was also worth £60,000—a prize split between the player, one lucky fan, and the charity Prostate Cancer UK, the official charity partner of the tournament. “Everyone can score as well as anybody but hitting the doubles is the main focus so I’m over the moon,” Woodhouse added, underlining the competitive nature of darts.
Woodhouse’s relationship with Heta transcends competition; the two are good friends who play golf together and practice regularly. “I know he was gutted when he missed the double 12 in his first game, so when he hit the nine-darter it was brilliant. The crowd went wild, and I couldn’t not celebrate with him. It was brilliant,” he exclaimed. Such camaraderie during intense competition highlights the unique spirit within the darts community.
The emotional stakes of the match were palpable. Heta’s nine-darter not only ignited the crowd but momentarily swept Woodhouse off his feet with his raw, celebratory joy. He shared, “It felt like I had hit it myself. My head had gone. Maybe looking back at it, I should have left it to his moment. But I was celebrating as much as he was.” Indeed, the camaraderie was evident to everyone present, including the talkSPORT commentary team, who remarked on Woodhouse's enthusiastic reaction to Heta's perfect leg.
Even amid the celebrations, Heta's high from the nine-darter didn’t sustain through the later stages of the match. Following this electrifying moment, he fell victim to the unrelenting pressure from Woodhouse, who won nine consecutive legs to clinch the match. Woodhouse commented on this rollercoaster experience, saying, “I felt really good beforehand. But the first couple of sets, I couldn’t get going. But I came back out and thought I played really well.”
Surprisingly, this win marked Woodhouse’s first advance to the last 16 of the World Darts Championship after years on the tour—16 years to be exact. He expressed his feelings of accomplishment, stating, “It means everything to be in the last 16. I’ve spoken about this thing with my family. I’ve started to really believe I can go far.” His commitment to the sport has blossomed from what he once considered just a hobby to now aspiring to be among the top 32 players globally.
The atmosphere at Alexandra Palace during the match was palpable, with moments of exhilaration where the crowd rallied behind both players, reflecting the sport's growing popularity and the emotional investment fans have with their favorite competitors. Commentary captured the raucous enthusiasm, particularly as Woodhouse and Heta celebrated both triumphs together and individually.
Looking forward, Woodhouse aims for continued success, as he remarked, “The seeds have continued to tumble in the competition.” He hopes for what would be regarded as one of the tournament’s significant runs, building on the momentum from such vividly emotional encounters.
With financial incentives beyond the personal accolades, both players show how sport intertwines with heartfelt connections and charitable effort, all contributing to the vibrant culture of darts. This story's essence encapsulates not just competition, but true friendship and spirited sportsmanship, themes likely to inspire those who witness it. The challenge now lies for Woodhouse to transform the momentum from this thrilling encounter as he prepares for his next match.
