Damon Heta sent out Alexandra Palace into meltdown on Friday afternoon after he struck a spectacular nine-dart finish triggering a ₤ 60,000 payout to a random fan in the crowd at the PDC World Darts Championship.
The spectacular minute came during his second-round clash versus English gamer Luke Woodhouse.
But the Australian could not ride his momentum, with British darts star, coming back from going 3-1 down to clinch 9 straight legs of darts and advance to the last 16 at the World Darts Championships for the first time in his career.
Despite the defeat, Heta will leave with ₤ 60k in his pocket, following his impressive nine-dart task.
For this year's PDC World Darts Championship, Paddy Power are paying out a total of ₤ 180k for every single nine-darter scored during the tournament, with the funds to be split three methods.
The player who throws the best leg will get ₤ 60k, a fortunate fan at Alexandra Palace will likewise be handed a ₤ 60k cheque, while the sports betting company are likewise set to contribute ₤ 60k to Prostate Cancer UK, the official Charity partner of the tournament.
A fan in the audience who was wearing a yellow trilby hat and a Christamas-themed sports betting jacket was chosen as the fortunate winner of the big cash prize.
Damon Heta hit a marvelous nine-dart surface on Friday afternoon at Alexandra Palace
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HEROIC HETA HITS THE NINE! UNBELIEVABLE SCENES! Damon Heta lands the second nine-darter of the tournament to raise the roofing system 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 an indication behind the guy that read Wayne Mardle's renowned 'I can't spake' line, which the legendary darts analyst had actually said following Michael Smith's nine-darter at the 2023 World Championships.
Paddy Power are also contributing ₤ 1,000 for each 180 tossed throughout this Year's championship as part of their Bigger180 campaign.
Heta's best leg was the 2nd nine-dart surface at the tournament. As of this morning, Paddy Power had raised over ₤ 500,000 for charity with 462 180s having been struck at the tournament prior to the start of this afternoon's session.
The Australian started improperly against Woodhouse, with Heta conceding the first set, being broken by his challenger in the final leg of the very first set.
He hit back in the second term with an exceptional passage of play, racking off 2 180s and the last 141 in design.
The 37-year-old Australian, who comes from Perth, jumped around the phase in festivity and at one point even appeared to leap off the stage.
His challenger, Woodhouse, looked simply as thrilled as Heta did, leaping up and down on the phase before revealing his class, offering the Aussie star a hug and raising his hand in the air to celebrate the spectacular task.
The Brit, 36, has actually been hailed for his response to the moment online, with one fan writing: 'Luke Woodhouse's celebration after Heta's nine-darter is class.'
Paddy Power later exposed the gentleman who had won the ₤ 60,000 prize pot
The minute among the audience discovered they were ₤ 60,000 richer pic.twitter.com/G0eYn9n2ln
bit.ly
- Sky sports betting Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 27, 2024
Heta (left) and Luke Woodhouse (right) welcomed on phase after the legendary moment
After Heta had gone a set down in the first exchange, his nine-dart finish saw him get better versus 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 composed on X.
'The method Luke Woodhousecelebrates Damon Heta's nine-darter and raises his hand afterwards is what makes this sport so fantastic,' one wrote.
'The friendship in darts is amazing. Just take a look at the method Luke Woodhouse, celebrated his opponent's nine-darter previously,' another said.
After the match, Woodhouse reflected on the marvelous minute that saw his good pal Heta win ₤ 60k.
'Me and Damo are buddies,' he told 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 game.
'So, yeah, when he hit 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
Elated by the mind-blowing finish, the Australian, who hails from Perth, leapt off the phase in elation
Woodhouse was applauded for his reaction to his challenger's nine-dart finish, with some admiring his 'sportsmanship'
Heta would go on to dominate in the 3rd set, winning 3-2 and once again dominating the 4th, breaking his challenger twice.
But Woodhouse, who is ranked No 35 on the planet, got better, winning all 3 last sets to turn things around on his opponent and development through to the next round.
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A noticeably psychological Woodhouse stated after the match: 'I'm over the moon.'
'It's not simply me it's my other half, my household and my kid. So [I'm doing] actually great.'
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Aussie Darts Star Damon Heta Hits a NINE DARTER At Alexandra Palaec
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