"The other countries are much more scared of us, than we are of them" - Australians shine with confidence at World Cup of Darts
PDCSaturday, 14 June 2025 at 11:43
Australia made a flawless start to the 2025 World Cup of Darts, with Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock winning both their group matches — and dropping just a single leg in the process. The defending champions now face the surprise package of Argentina in the last 16, a team making its debut at this year’s tournament.
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Australia opened their campaign with a dominant 4-0 victory over Spain in the afternoon session. Later that evening, Heta and Whitlock backed it up with a convincing 4-1 win against Austria, last year’s finalists.
“We didn’t feel any pressure — this is just a darts tournament,” Heta said. “I think the other countries are more scared of us than we are of them.”
Whitlock, who no longer holds a PDC Tour Card, echoed the sentiment.
“I’m playing completely free now,” said The Wizard. “Damon is in top form, and I’m hitting them pretty well myself. The longer format in the knockout stage suits us better. These best-of-seven group matches can be tricky — there’s little room for error and not much rhythm.”
Simon Whitlock in action
Wizardry on Display
Whitlock turned heads with a spectacular 96 finish using an unconventional route: single 20, double 19, double 19.
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“I practice that every day and didn’t even think twice,” Whitlock smiled. “I wasn’t surprised,” added Heta. “I know what he can do and I’ve got full confidence in him.”
Despite their strong start, the Aussie duo believes there’s still more in the tank.
“We played two solid matches, but we can raise our level,” said Heta. “Hopefully, we’ve saved our very best for later in the tournament.”
The Future Down Under
With the recent announcement of a PDC Australian Premier League, both players highlighted the growing opportunities for darts talent in the region.
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“Players down under are getting more chances from the PDC,” Heta said. “I hope they grab them. It’s time more of them step up, go to Q-School, and earn a Tour Card.”
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.
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