"He needs to grow up and grow one": Damon Heta tells fan attempting trademark moustache with marker after tense Van Gerwen win
PDCSunday, 13 September 2026 at 08:00
Damon Heta has booked his place in the final day of the Flanders Darts Trophy 2026 after a hard-fought thriller against Michael van Gerwen. The Australian edged out the Dutchman 6-5 in Antwerp and admitted afterwards that neither player came close to producing their best level.
ADVERTISEMENT
The encounter at Flanders Darts Trophy was largely about hard work and taking the opportunities that presented themselves. Heta noticed that Van Gerwen was unable to find his usual game and also saw the Dutchman’s frustrations. ‘The Heat’ tried not to let that affect him as much as possible.
"You know, I think one of us could have just run away with it to be fair, I think he didn't turn up and I could see that and I could see his frustrations when he was... So I just tried to keep myself in check and I think that's what I needed to do and not buy into where both... I knew we weren't both playing great," said Heta post match.
For Heta, it was therefore mainly a matter of staying focused on his own game. "So I was like, alright, keep yourself in check, take your opportunities and yeah, whatever he gave me, I took, you could say. Yeah, I wish I could have jumped on it a bit more and made it an easier game."
Damon Heta took down MVG.
Another 6-5 win for Heta
The Australian would have preferred to finish the match earlier. Van Gerwen remained alive, however, meaning an eleventh and deciding leg was ultimately required. "But you know, 6-5, it seems like it's a speciality at the moment, I was going to say."
It was precisely in that deciding leg that Heta produced one of the most important moments of the match. He opened with a 180 and immediately put the pressure back on Van Gerwen.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Oh, it wasn't a just, that was a massive 180 and I just had to release and I felt better after that, I was like, I should have done that after the first shot.
Afterwards, the Australian even wondered why he had not been able to find that relaxed mindset earlier in the match. "It might have been 26 or something, but I should have done that, like, no, I just... Yeah, you get embroiled in some games sometimes."
Although the level was not what Heta had hoped for, the result was ultimately what mattered most to him. A victory over Van Gerwen remains special for the Australian, regardless of how it is achieved. "But you know, you always take a win over one of the world's best and I'll take that every day."
ANOTHER DECIDING LEG WIN FOR HETA!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) September 12, 2026
In a game with all holds of throw, Damon Heta comes out on top and beats Michael van Gerwen in yet another deciding-leg for the Australian!
📺 https://t.co/Dogi6ykEH5 #ET13 pic.twitter.com/cQVGuHZSho
Notable Heta supporter
ADVERTISEMENT
Heta could also count on plenty of support from the stands in Antwerp. Several supporters were wearing shirts featuring the Australian, while one fan had even drawn on Heta’s trademark moustache. According to the interviewer, a waterproof marker may even have been used for it.
"Yeah, look, he needs to grow up and grow one, you know what I mean? And then, yeah, get a real one, you deserve it, mate, do yourself a favour."
Read also
When he subsequently spotted the fan in the crowd, Heta followed it up with another compliment. "There he is, what a good-looking rooster. No, I appreciate all the support, I really appreciate it, thank you very much, thank you."
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- He wasn't "offered £501,000 to face Luke Littler". He was allowed to audition for the chance. That's not the same. Literally like saying I was offered a no.1 single, when actually I decided not to attend an open casting for the X factor.BandB13-09-2026
- I loved Jan and loved his walk on music "Explode" by Jordan & Baker. I think if he stuck around the BDO he definitely would have been World Champion, should have won in 2014, he never really showed any of his talent in the PDC. I remembered he worked in a bank or in finance and maybe that was his priority, he was also a fan and interested in magic. Definitely should have achieved much more in darts than he did. Wherever you are nowadays Jan, hope all is well and I was always a fan.richieburnettrocks11-09-2026
- Not much of a tournament really,is it? Now they've all pulled out,it's open for everyone. I'm sure if you bought tickets,you'd be disappointed. Doesn't that seem to bother the withdrawals? Not at all!!rick6710-09-2026
- Need to see her take part in the womens tour. She'll break the inernet.medinabello08-09-2026
- If he can be bothered? He won't play darts in Germany yet he'll go over and get an award!??rick6702-09-2026
- Why is this the main story? He chose not to compete in loads of tournaments,yes he's number 1 in the world,but he does have to turn up at tournaments! Play the next world championship in Dortmund and see if he turns up!!rick6727-08-2026
- This is exactly what I mean,littler survives the 1st round,I think you'll find a lot of other players did. Can you just report on the real sport,and not just 1 person. I like Luke,but this is getting boring now,as Kevin painter once said to Taylor!! The sport is about every player,not 1 who everyone seems to have put the sport on the map.,which he hasn't,he's just got in when the money is massive. Great as he is,it seems like what's the point in anyone trying,he's going to win everything,unless it's in Germany or Australia!!!rick6726-08-2026
- I mean look, Littler's picture is first,wattimena is second and he won! Level it up. I know littler is fantastic,but the sport was here before him,and will be when he's retired. Any player in the top 64/128 can beat each other,it's not big news. Poor Jermaine,wins it,and not even the headline!!rick6726-08-2026
- I appreciate that littler is a fantastic player,but the top 3 articles are about him. Before he'd thrown a dart in the tournament. Level it out a bit, Taylor and van gerwen soon got disliked as the media could only see them,and nobody else seemed to matterrick6725-08-2026
- The two-point Lucky Loser qualifiers are Ross Smith, Robb, Whitlock, Sakai, Ilagan and Toylo. Jermaine is not on the entries list on Dartconnect for the TCH qualifier so the four from the main OoM are probably Searle, Nijman, Dobey, Wattimena.Scoobedybop24-08-2026
Loading