Damon Heta narrowly misses double 12 for match-winning nine-darter but sees off Connor Scutt to reach World Darts Championship third round

Damon Heta is into the third round of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship after seeing off Connor Scutt in a high quality contest 3-1 at the Ally Pally. Notably, the Aussie narrowly missed double 12 for a nine-darter to winning the match.

Two good mates and regular practice partners away from the big stage, the opening set was somewhat nervy, perhaps out of respect. After Australian number one Heta took the first two legs of the match, Challenge Tour winner Scutt fought back strongly to reel off two straight legs of his own and force a decider. Scutt had the throw in the fifth leg and the Englishman pinned double 6 to take the set and move into a 1-0 lead.

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In the opening leg of set 2, Heta stopped the rot, to move on quickly from his disappointment. The Aussie moved into a 2-0 lead in the set too, much like set 1. Unlike in the opening set though, 'The Heat' kicked off leg 3 with five perfect darts, setting himself up for a set winning opportunity that he smartly took, levelling the contest.

The Australian made it four legs on the spin to start set three, and then, with a third ton-plus checkout, doubled his advantage in the set with a fifth successive leg. Busting on a 72 checkout when throwing for the set though, Heta let Scutt in and the Englishman took full advantage to keep the set alive. Heta had the darts in leg 4, but after missing a set dart at double 9, Scutt forced a decider. Blowing two set darts at double 8 though, Scutt failed to complete the turnaround as he did in set 1 and Heta got himself into a 2-1 lead.

Holding throw to get set 4 underway, Heta then kicked off the 2nd leg with a maximum as the Aussie attempted to surge towards the winning line. Those plans were boosted as Heta picked off leg 2 with a 121 checkout. Throwing for the match, Heta matched Luke Littler from earlier in the night and went eight perfect darts into the leg. Despite missing double 12 for the perfect leg, eventually he secured victory with his 7th matchdart.

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