“The comeback will be bigger than the setback” – Damon Heta fires back amid inconsistent start to 2026

Damon Heta admitted he has been getting in his own way at times this season after battling past Madars Razma 6-4 in a scrappy, break-heavy contest at the European Darts Grand Prix on Friday night.

The Australian came through a chaotic opening-round tie that saw six consecutive breaks of throw early on, eventually doing enough in the closing stages to secure a much-needed win during a period where consistency has been harder to find.

Heta was candid in his assessment of both the performance and his wider form, acknowledging that overthinking has played a role in his recent struggles. “It was definitely a battle. All those breaks of throw put pressure on your own throw, so you just have to get the job done,” he said in conversation with Dartsnews.com. “I’m really happy I hit the doubles at the end. He missed at a key moment and that gave me the opportunity, and I took it with both hands.”

Victories like this carry added importance given his current run. “Especially when you haven’t been winning as consistently as you’d like. It feels like a bit of weight off the shoulders,” he explained. “You can relax a little more and just let the darts do the talking. I know how to throw darts, it’s about not overthinking it.”

That self-awareness extended further as he reflected on his own role in recent results. “I’m my own worst enemy sometimes, getting in my own way really. But at the end of the day, mate, that win is massive, especially against Madars, who’s an absolute tricky player to play.”

Despite a solid statistical level, Heta admitted the results have not always followed on the floor this season, something he is determined to correct. “A few players have played pretty well against me as well, to be fair,” he said. “I think I’ve played half decent. If you look at the stats, they’re there, just not the results. I’ve got to convert these.”

Confidence remains central to that process. “Winning breeds winning and stuff like that, so it’s all about confidence,” he said. “It’s all a building process for me.”

Heta also confirmed he has made small adjustments to his setup in an effort to find further consistency. “I was just a bit naive not to tinker with things,” he explained. “I didn’t like the way my darts were sitting with the long point. For some reason they started laying a bit flatter, which I just didn’t like. Rather than try and change my throw for that, it was better to change my setup to suit my throw.”

The Australian was clear that simply getting by is not enough for him, reiterating his determination to push for more despite a mixed start to the campaign. “That’s a wait and see question, isn’t it?” he said when asked what would define a good year. “I said something in an interview where I was like, you know what, we’re playing darts, living life, things are happening, you can just cruise along. That’s not me. It didn’t sit right. I’m one that works so hard, so I demand results.”

That mindset is why he remains convinced better moments are coming. “I’m always doing more to try and find the next levels and the next step and what I should be doing,” he said. “It just shows that I’ve got a lot of scars at the moment. And if people are looking at me on the way down, well, I tell you what, the comeback will be bigger than the setback.”

Next up is a second-round clash with Martin Schindler in front of a partisan home crowd, but Heta is unfazed by the challenge. “It doesn’t matter. You know me and Martin, he’ll turn up, I’ll turn up,” he said. “If he’s on his home turf with a home crowd, he’s going to turn up. That’s all I’ve got to look at.”

His focus remains firmly on his own game. “I’ve really got to just put my head down, play my game, don’t worry about what’s going on and just let the darts flow and not think about it.”

With a difficult win now on the board and confidence still central to his thinking, Heta heads into Saturday determined to build momentum rather than dwell on what has gone before.