Damon Heta is the second player into the Quarter-Finals of the 2024 Masters after dumping out Rob Cross albeit it could've been a lot easier for 'The Heat' who was under the cosh with the finishing line in sight but sealed the deal 10-8.
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Heta hit a 102.7 average with four 180's as well as 55.6% on the outer ring to see off the Premier League star. It was a procession in parts as he went 9-5 up, but Cross made him sweat before he finally got over the line with an expert 11-darter. Next up is Michael Smith or Dimitri van den Bergh tomorrow.
The opening five legs of the contest went with throw as Cross moved 3-2 up early doors on the Aussie ace. But Heta turned the tables going into the interval in the race to ten as he moved 6-4 up averaging just shy of 100. He resumed his dominance post interval from there.
He was seemingly heading to the Quarter-Finals with some pace as Cross missed one dart at double 16 and Heta pinned 68 to go 8-5 up. The procession continued as he took out 76 to go 9-5 ahead and one from the finishing line. But this is when issues started to arise as Heta missed two match darts and after Cross hit a fourth 180, he hit double four to trail 9-7.
It was heading towards a final leg as again a match dart went begging and Cross held throw to make it 9-8. Both players hit a maximum to start a pivotal leg. But it was Heta who was down towards a finish first with an excellent 135 set-up to leave 46 with Cross only able to hit a 140 and hope that Heta wouldn't seal the deal. But he finally did with an 11-darter on double 16.
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