Damon Heta sent out Alexandra Palace into crisis on Friday afternoon after he struck a spectacular nine-dart surface activating a ₤ 60,000 payment to a random fan in the crowd at the PDC World Darts Championship.
The sensational moment came throughout his second-round clash versus 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 career.
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 during the competition, with the funds to be divided 3 ways.
The player who tosses the ideal leg will get ₤ 60k, a lucky fan at Alexandra Palace will also be handed a ₤ 60k cheque, while the sports betting business are likewise set to contribute ₤ 60k to Prostate Cancer UK, the main Charity partner of the tournament.
A fan in the audience who was using a yellow trilby hat and a Christamas-themed blazer was picked as the lucky winner of the huge money prize.
Damon Heta struck a mind-blowing nine-dart finish 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 to raise the roof 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 contribute another 60k to charity and to a random fan in the crowd at Ally Pally
Hilariously another fan had been seen holding a sign behind the guy that read Wayne Mardle's renowned 'I can't spake' line, which the famous darts analyst had actually said following Michael Smith's nine-darter at the 2023 World Championships.
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Paddy Power are also contributing ₤ 1,000 for each 180 tossed throughout this Year's championship as part of their Bigger180 project.
Heta's best leg was the second nine-dart finish at the competition. Since today, Paddy Power had 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 versus Woodhouse, with Heta yielding the first set, being broken by his opponent in the last leg of the very first set.
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He countered in the 2nd term with an outstanding passage of play, racking off two 180s and the final 141 in style.
The 37-year-old Australian, who hails from Perth, leapt around the phase in jubilation and at one point even appeared to jump off the stage.
His challenger, Woodhouse, looked simply as excited as Heta did, leaping up and down on the stage before revealing his class, providing the Aussie star a hug and raising his hand in the air to celebrate the marvelous 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 actually won the ₤ 60,000 prize pot
The moment among the audience found out 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 (right) welcomed on phase after the legendary minute
After Heta had gone a set down in the first exchange, his nine-dart finish saw him recuperate against 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 excellent,' one wrote.
'The sociability in darts is unbelievable. Just look at the way Luke Woodhouse, commemorated his opponent's nine-darter previously,' another said.
After the match, Woodhouse assessed the sensational minute that saw his good friend 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 very first video game.
'So, yeah, when he struck 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, jumped 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 third set, winning 3-2 and once again dominating the fourth, breaking his challenger two times.
But Woodhouse, who is ranked No 35 on the planet, recuperated, winning all three final sets to turn things around on his opponent and progress through to the next round.
A visibly emotional Woodhouse stated after the match: 'I'm over the moon.'
'It's not simply me it's my other half, my family and my young boy. So [I'm doing] truly great.'
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Aussie Darts Star Damon Heta Hits a NINE DARTER At Alexandra Palaec
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