"I went home 10 days before the World Series, everywhere I went it was still being played then": Heta on resonance of World Cup of Darts triumph in Australia

When Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock clinched the 2022 World Cup of Darts, it had a big impact on the sport back home in Australia as Heta has revealed.

"Every week ever since has been a bit mental but we're still enjoying it. Just looking forward now to the new format," Heta tells Weekly Dartscast in a pre-World Cup of Darts interview. A big difference from last year, is the fact that it is now exclusively pairs matchups throughout the event. "I think it's gonna be one for the viewers to keep an eye on and a lot I think there'll be a lot of upsets."

"I went home 10 days before the World Series, everywhere I went it was still being played then," Heta laughs, referencing the impact of Australia becoming world champions had on the sport of darts Down Under. "I went for food in pubs and stuff it was still being played then. Random people would come up to me and wish me luck and congratulations."

"It was just a good time for it to happen really," Heta concludes. Australia will open the defence of their crown in a group stage alongside Guyana and Gibraltar.

The World Cup of Darts will be played from June 15-18 in Frankfurt, Germany. The nation tournament has a revamped format this year, with only pair matches being played.

The field of participants consists of 40 countries. Top nations England, the Netherlands, Wales and Scotland are automatically qualified for the last 16. The remaining 36 countries are divided into 12 groups of three countries each. The 12 group winners join the aforementioned four countries in the second round. From then on, knockout matches will be played.

Darts fans across the United Kingdom can watch the World Cup of Darts on Sky Sports. The winning duo at the World Cup of Darts will go home with £40,000 each.