Damon Heta sent out Alexandra Palace into meltdown on Friday afternoon after he struck a mind-blowing nine-dart finish setting off a ₤ 60,000 payment to a random fan in the crowd at the PDC World Darts Championship.
The spectacular minute came during his second-round clash versus English player 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 first time in his profession.
Despite the defeat, Heta will win ₤ 60k in his pocket, following his epic nine-dart task.
For this year's PDC World Darts Championship, Paddy Power are paying an overall of ₤ 180k for each nine-darter scored during the tournament, with the funds to be divided three ways.
The player who throws the ideal leg will get ₤ 60k, a fortunate fan at Alexandra Palace will also be handed a ₤ 60k cheque, while the sports betting company are also set to donate ₤ 60k to Prostate Cancer UK, the main 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 picked as the lucky winner of the huge money reward.
Damon Heta hit a sensational nine-dart surface 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 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 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 male that checked out Wayne Mardle's renowned 'I can't spake' line, which the famous darts commentator had actually stated following Michael Smith's nine-darter at the 2023 World Championships.
Paddy Power are likewise donating ₤ 1,000 for every 180 thrown throughout this Year's championship as part of their Bigger180 campaign.
Heta's perfect leg was the 2nd 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 began inadequately versus Woodhouse, with Heta yielding the very first set, being broken by his opponent in the last leg of the very first set.
He struck back in the second term with an outstanding passage of play, racking off two 180s and the last 141 in design.
The 37-year-old Australian, who hails from Perth, leapt around the phase in jubilation 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 celebrate the marvelous accomplishment.
The Brit, 36, has actually been hailed for his reaction to the moment online, with one fan writing: 'Luke Woodhouse's event after Heta's nine-darter is class.'
Paddy Power later on exposed the gentleman who had actually won the ₤ 60,000 prize pot
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The moment among the audience found out they were ₤ 60,000 richer pic.twitter.com/G0eYn9n2ln
- Sky sports betting Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 27, 2024
Heta (left) and Luke Woodhouse (right) welcomed on phase after the epic minute
After Heta had gone a set down in the very first exchange, his nine-dart surface saw him bounce back versus his British opponent to draw level at 1-1
'Big props to Luke Woodhouse - he's genuinely buzzing for his mate! Love the sportsmanship and enjoyment!' another composed on X.
'The way Luke Woodhousecelebrates Damon Heta's nine-darter and raises his hand afterwards is what makes this sport so fantastic,' one wrote.
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'The sociability in darts is amazing. Just look at the way Luke Woodhouse, commemorated his challenger's nine-darter previously,' another said.
After the match, Woodhouse reviewed the mind-blowing moment that saw his great friend Heta walk away with ₤ 60k.
'Me and Damo are excellent pals,' he informed Sky sports betting. 'We play golf together a lot. We hang out and a lot ...
'I understand he was gutted when he missed his double twelve in the very first video game.
'So, yeah, when he hit that nine-darter the crowd went wild.
'You couldn't not commemorate with him!'
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Luke Woodhouse pic.twitter.com/Oza4ZK63yV
- Martin (@martin_kcr) December 27, 2024
Elated by the sensational surface, the Australian, who hails from Perth, jumped off the stage in elation
Woodhouse was praised for his reaction to his challenger's nine-dart surface, with some admiring his 'sportsmanship'
Heta would go on to dominate in the 3rd set, winning 3-2 and again controling the 4th, breaking his opponent two times.
But Woodhouse, who is ranked No 35 in the world, recuperated, winning all 3 last sets to turn things around on his opponent and progress through to the next round.
A visibly emotional Woodhouse said after the match: 'I'm over the moon.'
'It's not simply me it's my better half, my family and my young boy. So [I'm doing] actually good.'
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Aussie Darts Star Damon Heta Hits a NINE DARTER At Alexandra Palaec
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