DAMON HETA endured the curse of the Ally Pally nine-darter – as Luke Woodhouse celebrated his own Cloud Nine moment.
Australian slinger Heta, 37, banked £60,000 off sponsors Paddy Power for the perfect set of arrows he threw in leg three of the second set in the first darts game post-Christmas.
A punter in the crowd – snazzy-dressed Mauro from Switzerland – also earned £60,000 as part of this tournament’s gimmick while Prostate Cancer got the same amount.
Having missed double 12 for a nine-darter in the second round of the PDC World Darts Championships, The Heat jumped around the stage like a madman.
Sportingly, Woodhouse punched the air as well, hugged his close pal and was genuinely happy for Heta’s exploits.
But from 3-1 down, Worcestershire’s Woodhouse then won NINE legs in a row to win 4-3 and seal his progress to the fourth round for the first time.
It means four of the last five people to hit a nine-darter on that famous stage – Michael Smith in the 2023 final is the exception – have gone out in the same game.
Woody, 36, choked up on stage but kept his composure to say: “It’s brilliant. At 3-1 down, I wasn’t sure if I would make it. So, to come back against a player like Damo is amazing.
“It’s a massive achievement to be in the last 16 of the World Championship.
“Nine straight legs, it didn’t feel like it was anything like that. I only got told that when I came off the stage.
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“In the first two sets, I couldn’t settle at all. I was trying to put them in the trebles. I had no rhythm or fluidity to my game.
“Me and Damo are friends, we play golf together and also practise a little bit.
“He missed double 12 in his last game and complained about it in his last interview.
“When he hit the nine-darter, I couldn’t control myself, I was as excited as him.
“As soon as the crowd go up, you can feel it go through your body.
“Damo told me on stage: ‘I have to stop my heart from racing.’
“I was so chuffed he hit it. It’s £60,000 for Damo and the same for the charity and a member of the crowd, whose Christmas is a little bit better.”
That crowd member, Mauro, revealed what he plans to spend the Paddy Power The Bigger 180 bumper bonus on: beer and new windows.
The 37-year-old teacher said: “I don’t have any real words, it’s just unbelievable.
“I told my friends and family that I’d pay for the whole trip if I won it – and I could never imagine that I actually would! I’m very happy, over the moon.
“It’s our third time at Alexandra Palace. We came to watch some football and some darts – it was a nice trip with the lads and all the good stuff and winning it is just amazing, incredible.
“I’ve just taken over my family’s house. We will use the £60,000 to get new windows, it’s quite boring but we need stuff for the house!
“I’ll also cover every expense for the whole group – and use it to get some more beers. That’s it”
Crowd favourite Stephen Bunting hit an impressive average of 100.06 as he beat Latvian Madars Razma 4-1 and now faces Woodhouse in the next contest.
