Heta hits a nine-dart arrow, but is knocked out

Ninth seed Damon Heta hit the nine-dart as the PDC World Championship resumed after Christmas – but was still kicked out.

The Australian hit double 12 to complete a perfect leg in the second set of his third-round match with Luke Woodhouse to earn a cool £60,000.

But Woodhouse fought back to reach the last 16 with a 3-1 win.

THE HEROIC HEAT HITS THE NINE! 🔥

AMAZING SCENES! 🤯

Damon Heta wins the second nine-dart of the tournament and raises the roof at Alexandra Palace! #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/DW6rhvFqez

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024

“I’m speechless at all – the crowd were fantastic,” Woodhouse told Sky Sports. “I don’t think it was the best game in the world, but I managed to get through it. I’m over the moon.

“I was just trying to put him under as much pressure as possible. I just wanted to follow him as much as possible and then see what happens next.”

Heta was millimeters away from throwing a nine in the last round when he missed a double 12, but this time he made no mistake in the first match after the Christmas break.

He followed up with back-to-back 180s with a high 20 and a high 19 before sending his ninth arrow to the right of the wire.

‘You couldn’t help but celebrate’

Heta’s feat was the second time the nine-dart has been thrown at the 2025 tournament and 16th all-time at the World Cup, following Christian Kist’s attempt before Christmas.

Woodhouse took his opponent’s success in good spirits, hugging the Australian and raising his hand in the air.

Woodhouse added: “Me and Damo are good friends. We go golfing together a lot, socialize and exercise a lot.

“I know he was upset when he missed double 12 in the previous round, so it was brilliant. The audience went wild and it was impossible not to celebrate.”