Damon Heta for a long time has been tagged as a player who can't play on TV and can't bring his ProTour form onto the big stage, but is through to his third major Quarter-Final of the season at the Players Championship Finals.
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It was a 10-8 win for Heta over another ProTour standout in Brendan Dolan as he averaged 99.8 and hit five 180's alongside three ton plus checkouts en route to victory with 43.5% on the outer ring. A superb display from the Aussie who is underlining his credentials to be part of the main darting elite.
It was actually delightful from Dolan to start the tie, with Heta seizing the early initiative with 128 and 124 finishes. But Dolan hit a 140 checkout to make it 3-3. Heta halted the charge though and produced a 13-darter on double 20 to make it 5-5 with a 101 average.
They continued to exchange legs with Heta going 8-7 up and the biting point came in the last leg of the match as Heta pounced on missed darts at a double at the wrong time from Dolan to seal the win.
He is joined by Stephen Bunting. He faced off against Kim Huybrechts on the Main Stage and he sealed a 10-8 victory. Pinning five 180's and 38.5% on the doubles. He will also be back tomorrow.
A fans favourite for his persona also off the oche on social media, he had a superb run last week in Wolverhampton and like Heta has hit form at exactly the right time.
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In a similar scenario, both players kept with each other until the penultimate leg as Huybrechts missed chances to go one away himself and Bunting hit double nine to make it 9-8. Before he sealed the deal with a less glamorous 20 darter.
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HETA DENIES DOLAN! 🇦🇺
Damon Heta is the first player through to the quarter-finals in Minehead!
Australia's number one outlasts Brendan Dolan in a hard-fought affair to seal his place in Sunday's final stages!
📺 bit.ly/PCF23Live#PCF | R3