Damon Heta sent Alexandra Palace into crisis on Friday afternoon after he struck a marvelous nine-dart surface activating a ₤ 60,000 payment to a random fan in the crowd at the PDC World Darts Championship.
The spectacular minute came throughout his second-round clash against English gamer Luke Woodhouse.
But the Australian couldn't ride his momentum, with British darts star, Woodhouse returning 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 very first time in his profession.
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 an overall of ₤ 180k for each nine-darter scored throughout the tournament, with the funds to be divided 3 ways.
The gamer who throws the ideal leg will receive ₤ 60k, a fortunate 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 main Charity partner of the competition.
A fan in the audience who was wearing a yellow trilby hat and a Christamas-themed blazer was picked as the lucky winner of the substantial money reward.
Damon Heta struck a spectacular nine-dart surface on Friday afternoon at Alexandra Palace
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 ideal leg, with Paddy Power also now set to donate another 60k to charity and to a random fan in the crowd at Ally Pally
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Hilariously another fan had been seen holding a sign behind the guy that checked out Wayne Mardle's renowned 'I can't spake' line, which the legendary darts commentator had said following Michael Smith's nine-darter at the 2023 World Championships.
Paddy Power are likewise donating ₤ 1,000 for each 180 thrown throughout this Year's champion as part of their Bigger180 project.
Heta's perfect leg was the second nine-dart finish at the competition. As of this morning, 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 started inadequately against Woodhouse, with Heta yielding 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 outstanding passage of play, racking off two 180s and the last 141 in style.
The 37-year-old Australian, who hails from Perth, leapt around the phase in festivity and at one point even appeared to leap off the stage.
His opponent, Woodhouse, looked simply as excited as Heta did, leaping up and down on the phase before showing his class, providing the Aussie star a hug and raising his hand in the air to commemorate the mind-blowing task.
The Brit, 36, has been hailed for his reaction to the moment online, with one fan writing: 'Luke Woodhouse's celebration after Heta's nine-darter is class.'
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Paddy Power later exposed the gentleman who had actually won the ₤ 60,000 reward pot
The moment among the audience discovered they were ₤ 60,000 richer pic.twitter.com/G0eYn9n2ln
- Sky sports betting Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 27, 2024
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Heta (left) and Luke Woodhouse (best) embraced on stage after the impressive minute
After Heta had gone a set down in the very first exchange, his nine-dart finish saw him get better versus his British opponent to draw level at 1-1
'Big props to Luke Woodhouse - he's truly buzzing for his mate! Love the sportsmanship and enjoyment!' another wrote on X.
'The method Luke Woodhousecelebrates Damon Heta's nine-darter and raises his hand later on is what makes this sport so terrific,' one wrote.
'The friendship in darts is unbelievable. Just take a look at the way Luke Woodhouse, celebrated his opponent's nine-darter earlier,' another stated.
After the match, Woodhouse assessed the marvelous minute that saw his Heta leave with ₤ 60k.
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'Me and Damo are buddies,' he informed Sky sports betting. 'We play golf together a lot. We hang out and practice a lot ...
'I know he was gutted when he missed his double twelve in the very first video game.
'So, yeah, when he struck that nine-darter the crowd went wild.
'You couldn't not celebrate with him!'
Luke Woodhouse pic.twitter.com/Oza4ZK63yV
- Martin (@martin_kcr) December 27, 2024
Elated by the sensational surface, the Australian, who comes from Perth, jumped off the stage in elation
Woodhouse was praised for his response to his challenger's nine-dart finish, with some admiring his 'sportsmanship'
Heta would go on to control in the third set, winning 3-2 and once again controling the 4th, breaking his challenger twice.
But Woodhouse, who is ranked No 35 in the world, recuperated, winning all 3 last sets to turn things around on his challenger and progress through to the next round.
A visibly emotional Woodhouse stated after the match: 'I'm over the moon.'
'It's not just me it's my spouse, my household and my young boy. So [I'm doing] actually excellent.'
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Aussie Darts Star Damon Heta Hits a NINE DARTER At Alexandra Palaec
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