Damon Heta dumps out Gerwyn Price in dramatic decider at Winmau World Master as Danny Noppert also through
PDC
Gerwyn Price is out of the 2025 Winmau World Masters at the Last 16 stage with Damon Heta accounting for 'The Iceman' in a dramatic 4-3 sets win in which 'The Heat' had match darts before he was forced into a decider.
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Heta claimed it with a 94 average and 45% on the outer ring in a great start to Saturday afternoon's action with a missed chance for Price who has been in some form as of late.
Heta secured the opening set with the Aussie ace hitting a 124 and 89 checkout superbly for the lead. But Price has immediately hit back.
Price well known for slow starts levelled as Heta could only pressure leaving 67 as Price hit double six finally for the lead. He then followed up with a 73 checkout to go 2-0 up and seal the set.
But Heta went further ahead at 2-1. He opened up with the opening leg before Price hit back with a 98 checkout.
But a slew of 134's and missed darts at double from Price saw Heta snatch it 2-1. Price couldn't hit 140 and like in the last leg which saw Heta hit 56, he returned for a last gasp combination finish hitting 50 for 3-1.
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Heta missed 150 for the lead and Price broke with an 80 checkout. But Heta returned for 1-1 to break back and was throwing for the match. He missed two for it though and Price picked his pocket. Price began the next set with a 70 checkout and an 81 checkout to make it 3-3.
Heta set out his stall though with a 100 checkout for a 12-dart hold in the decider only to spurn his chance at breaking and Price made it 1-1. But with his back against the wall in a decider, he missed another match dart and Price got a shot at 78 only to miss that and Heta returned for double two to fall over the line.
Danny Noppert has advanced to the quarter-finals at the Winmau World Masters in Milton Keynes. 'The Freeze' had no problem with William O'Connor on Saturday afternoon in the second round and defeated him easily 4-0 in sets.
Noppert's numbers were excellent. An average of 96, four 180 scores and a finishing percentage of 44 percent. O'Connor, who had shocked Rob Cross in the first round, threw an average of only 88.
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Noppert began the first set by holding his own throw, before O'Connor also held his own. Noppert then got to start the leg-decider and pulled the set away with a 13-darter.
O'Connor took the lead in set two with a 68 finish, but Noppert equalized with a 13-darter. O'Connor then failed to take the set, before Noppert doubled the lead in sets to 2-0 with an 86 finish.
In the third set, Noppert was not out in six innings, but O'Connor could not take advantage. Noppert then took a 1-0 lead with a 20-darter. O'Connor responded with a 14-darter, then the third set also went 2-1 to Noppert after he threw a 16-darter.
The fourth set also went over the full three legs, and was again a prey for Noppert. With a fine 118 finish, the former UK Open champion pulled off the win. In the next round Noppert will have a tough time anyway. He will meet the winner of the match between two-time world champion Peter Wright and Stephen Bunting.
𝗛𝗘𝗧𝗔 𝗢𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗜𝗡 𝗔 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗗𝗘𝗥 🇦🇺
— Live Darts (@livedarts) February 1, 2025
Gerwyn Price recovers from 3-1 down to force a deciding set but only to miss a match dart as Damon Heta seals victory on D2 in the deciding leg for a place in the quarter-finals!#WinmauWorldMasters pic.twitter.com/UxUa2leVfO
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