Damon Heta sent out Alexandra Palace into meltdown on Friday afternoon after he struck a mind-blowing nine-dart surface off a ₤ 60,000 payment to a random fan in the crowd at the PDC World Darts Championship.
The sensational minute came during his second-round clash against English player Luke Woodhouse.
But the Australian could not ride his momentum, with British darts star, Woodhouse coming back from going 3-1 to clinch 9 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 win ₤ 60k in his pocket, following his legendary nine-dart accomplishment.
For this year's PDC World Darts Championship, Paddy Power are paying an overall of ₤ 180k for every single nine-darter scored throughout the competition, with the funds to be split 3 ways.
bet9ja.com
The player who tosses the perfect leg will receive ₤ 60k, a lucky fan at Alexandra Palace will likewise be handed a ₤ 60k cheque, while the sports betting business are likewise set to donate ₤ 60k to Prostate Cancer UK, the official Charity partner of the tournament.
A fan in the audience who was using a yellow trilby hat and a Christamas-themed blazer was selected as the lucky winner of the big prize money.
Damon Heta struck an astonishing 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 competition to raise the roofing 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 contribute 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 man that checked out Wayne Mardle's renowned 'I can't spake' line, which the legendary darts analyst had stated following Michael Smith's nine-darter at the 2023 World Championships.
Paddy Power are also contributing ₤ 1,000 for every 180 thrown during this Year's champion as part of their Bigger180 project.
Heta's ideal leg was the 2nd nine-dart surface at the tournament. Since today, Paddy Power had actually raised over ₤ 500,000 for charity with 462 180s having been struck at the competition prior to the start of this afternoon's session.
The Australian began badly against Woodhouse, with Heta yielding the very first set, being broken by his challenger in the last leg of the very first set.
bit.ly
He struck back in the second term with an impressive passage of play, racking off 2 180s and the final 141 in design.
The 37-year-old Australian, who comes from Perth, leapt around the stage in festivity and at one point even appeared to leap off the stage.
His opponent, Woodhouse, looked simply as delighted as Heta did, jumping up and down on the phase before showing his class, offering the Aussie star a hug and raising his hand in the air to celebrate the sensational accomplishment.
The Brit, 36, has been hailed for his reaction to the minute online, with one fan writing: 'Luke Woodhouse's event after Heta's nine-darter is class.'
Paddy Power later revealed the gentleman who had won the ₤ 60,000 reward pot
The moment one of the audience found out they were ₤ 60,000 richer pic.twitter.com/G0eYn9n2ln
- Sky sports betting Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 27, 2024
bet9ja.com
Heta (left) and Luke Woodhouse (right) embraced on stage after the impressive moment
After Heta had actually gone a set down in the first exchange, his nine-dart surface saw him get better against his British challenger to draw level at 1-1
'Big props to Luke Woodhouse - he's genuinely buzzing for his mate! Love the sportsmanship and enjoyment!' another wrote on X.
bet9ja.com
'The way Luke Woodhousecelebrates Damon Heta's nine-darter and raises his hand afterwards is what makes this sport so fantastic,' one composed.
'The camaraderie in darts is extraordinary. Just look at the way Luke Woodhouse, celebrated his opponent's nine-darter earlier,' another said.
bit.ly
After the match, Woodhouse assessed the spectacular minute that saw his buddy Heta stroll away with ₤ 60k.
'Me and Damo are buddies,' he informed Sky sports betting. 'We play golf together a lot. We hang out and practice a lot ...
bet9ja.com
'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.
bit.ly
'You couldn't not celebrate with him!'
Luke Woodhouse pic.twitter.com/Oza4ZK63yV
- Martin (@martin_kcr) December 27, 2024
Elated by the mind-blowing 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 dominate in the third set, winning 3-2 and again dominating the 4th, breaking his opponent two times.
But Woodhouse, who is ranked No 35 on the planet, recuperated, winning all three final sets to turn things around on his challenger and development through to the next round.
A noticeably psychological Woodhouse stated after the match: 'I'm over the moon.'
'It's not just me it's my better half, my family and my young boy. So [I'm doing] really excellent.'
1
Aussie Darts Star Damon Heta Hits a NINE DARTER At Alexandra Palaec
sherrijean6174 edited this page 3 months ago