Heta hits nine-darter but is latest seed out of Worlds

22 hours ago 3

Ninth seed Damon Heta's hit a nine-darter but was knocked out by Englishman Luke Woodhouse in the third round of the PDC World Championship.

The Australian celebrated wildly after hitting double 12 to complete the perfect leg - with Woodhouse raising his opponent's arm as a lively crowd roared their approval - on his way to winning the second set.

It is the second nine-darter of this year's tournament after Dutchman Christian Kist achieved the feat in the second round.

Kist also lost the match and nine of the 16 players to make a nine-dart finish at Alexandra Palace have gone on to lose the match.

Heta - who narrowly missed out on a nine-darter in the previous round - collects £60,000 for the feat, with the same amount being awarded by sponsors to a charity and to one spectator inside Alexandra Palace in London.

However, it is Woodhouse who advances to the last 16 as he fought back from 3-1 down to winning the final three sets without dropping a leg.

"I've got no words at all - the crowd has been fantastic," Woodhouse told Sky Sports. "I don't think it was the greatest game in the world but I've managed to come through it, onto the next round.

"I was just trying to put him under as much pressure as possible. I just wanted to keep on top of him as much as possible and then see what happened from there."

On Heta's nine-darter, Woodhouse added: "Me and Damo are good friends. We go and play golf together a lot and hang out and practice a lot.

"I know he was gutted when he missed the double 12 in the previous round so it was brilliant. The crowd went wild and you couldn't not celebrate."

Heta is the 15th seed to be knocked out already at the World Championship and the fourth of the top 10 seeds to depart.

Afternoon Session (12:30 GMT)

Third round

Damon Heta 3-4 Luke Woodhouse

Jonny Clayton v Daryl Gurney

Stephen Bunting v Madars Razma

Evening Session (19:00 GMT)

Third round

Gerwyn Price v Joe Cullen

Jermaine Wattimena v Peter Wright