Heta looks back on career defining World Series win in Brisbane: "I just felt it was my time to do it, I believed it was going to happen"

Damon Heta is now mixing it among the best on the PDC circuit after winning his Tour Card at the start of 2020 in a rise which has seen 'The Heat' go from being a World Series winner to a PDC ranking winner.

Heta's crowning glory which saw him emerge was at the Brisbane Darts Masters in 2019 when he defeated Rob Cross in the final. He joined Doubles and Trebles for an extended interview this past week and discussed playing the Australian Open beforehand and juggling work with the World Series.

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"It was huge because I was working flat out as well. In the week before, I played in the Australian Open which had Scott Mitchell and Jim Williams come over for," said Heta on Doubles and Trebles in association with DartsNews.com.

"It had all the best darts players in Australia as well so to get that win I thought that was massive as it was. I was confident I was going to win that tournament when it was first announced because there was a bit of prize money."

"I had to play that whole week and then that week I went home after I've already won that went to work for about four days and then had to fly back to Brisbane. Then played in there and win that and had to fly back home do another four days work."

"Then had to go to Melbourne and I turned up there and I played alright the first game. I think I was very emotional that game and that just took it out of me. New Zealand I didn't rock up. I felt in myself you'd done too much."

Tough route to the title including Whitlock win

As well as defeating Rob Cross in the final, the 250/1 outsider en route saw off the likes of James Wade, Gary Anderson and his now World Cup partner, Simon Whitlock. He spoke in particular about the Wizard and how a previous win spurred him on.

"I just referred back. I did play him once and I did beat him. It was like a mixed doubles for the Australian circuit. Me and my partner got it over him, I just kept thinking about that," he added.

"I'm going to take the reigns one day and I'm going to smash you and that's just how I felt in my mind."

He continued that he wanted to take the initiative and become the first local qualifier alongside the likes of Corey Cadby to make a splash and win more than one game against the big names.

"That was something else. I think all the nerves were all gone out of me after the James Wade game to be honest."

"I always thought what's with they've come over so many times and not many qualifiers might get through the first one and you need someone to step up and get the second one and the third one."

"Corey Cadby came on the scene and he got runner-up in New Zealand. I just felt it was my time to do it. I put in the work and the time and I believed it was going to happen."

View the full interview on the Doubles and Trebles YouTube channel below: