“To get a win over Michael is definitely a feather in the cap” – Damon Heta stuns Van Gerwen at 2026 Winmau World Masters

Damon Heta produced one of the standout results of the opening round at the 2026 Winmau World Masters, defeating Michael van Gerwen 3–1 to book his place in the next round.

Afterwards, Heta was quick to stress that the result mattered more than the name on the other side of the stage, even if the opponent inevitably added extra weight.

“What’s special is that I got the win. It didn’t matter who I played. If I get the win, happy days,” Heta said when addressing the media post-match. “But to get a win over Michael is definitely a feather in the cap.”

Heta and van Gerwen have faced each other repeatedly over the years, with matches that have not always flowed easily. “Me and Michael have had a few battles over the years, let’s not sugar-coat it,” Heta said. “We’ve not always had the best of games either.”

He knows better than most how quickly van Gerwen can punish even the smallest lapse. “He’s done it to me plenty of times, hasn’t he? He’s done it to everyone,” Heta said. “You never underestimate Michael. He can average 130 on you in a quick visit – that’s just who Michael is.”

This time, though, Heta was able to flip the script. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to take your chances,” he said. “I had a few, missed a few, took a few. Happy days, and we move on to the next round.”

He was candid about how the match felt in real time. “I probably got a bit lucky and took chances that were created out of nothing,” Heta admitted. “That’s darts – you’ve just got to take them.”

The win came only days after Heta returned from Australia, where he had spent time away from the circuit with family and friends. Rather than feeling underprepared, he felt the break had helped.

“For me, because I’m a massive practiser, having time off is probably a good thing,” Heta explained. “To have that break and refresh and see family and friends – that was absolutely massive.”

He enjoyed the time back home. “I really enjoyed myself back home this time,” he said. “To come back and get that win is absolutely insane. I’ll take it all day long.”

Physically, the turnaround was manageable. “I got back on the Saturday and played on the Thursday, so only a few days later,” Heta said. “The jet lag’s been pretty good. I haven’t been waking up at three or four in the morning. I’ve settled in quite well, and I think I’ve got it down packed.”

2026 also marks a shift for Australian darts, with Adam Leck joining Heta on the PDC Tour. “Honestly, I don’t really know Adam that well,” Heta said. “I’d heard of him, but I hadn’t spoken to him much. We exchanged a couple of messages, and I saw him briefly – that was about it.”

Even so, the achievement did not go unnoticed. “Fair play to him,” Heta said. “It came straight out of the blue. He’s never been on World Series events or anything, so to get a card is massive.”

Heta has already reached out. “I can only offer so much advice, which I have,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s all up to him.”

Leck’s emergence also alters the World Cup picture, with long-time Australian standard-bearer Simon Whitlock set to miss out. Heta was frank about that transition. “I think moving forward, it’s about time someone else came on tour,” he said. “Why not two, three, four? It’s probably overdue.”

“Fair play to Adam. Hopefully he brings the goods,” Heta added. “We’ll worry about the World Cup when the World Cup comes around.”

Heta understands why it remains hard for Australian and New Zealand players to break through consistently. “Travel, money – all of that plays a part,” he said. “COVID definitely had something to do with it as well.”

His own circumstances made the move more manageable. “I don’t have kids, which is huge,” Heta explained. “My wife came with me, which makes a massive difference. If you don’t have that support, it’s always in the back of your mind. It’s very hard.”

He pointed to the Australian Premier League as a rare positive. “As soon as it came on board, I thought it was massive,” Heta said. “It’s a good snowball effect. Hopefully, we start getting that conveyor belt again.”

Heta never expected van Gerwen to be anything other than dangerous. “You always expect the best,” he said. “You never go in thinking he’s going to average 80.”

Looking back on his own 2025 campaign, Heta was realistic. “Last year wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible either,” he said. “Looking back now, it felt like a bit of a gap year – it kept me where I am.”

For 2026, there is no bravado. “I’ll just take it as it comes,” Heta said. “Darts is massive and I’m still learning.”

Finally, Heta addressed the Premier League Darts, a stage he still hopes to reach. “Yeah, it would be nice,” he said. “I’d love to play it at least once and give it a fair crack.”

He remains grounded. “I won’t lose sleep if I don’t get picked,” Heta added. “All I can do is give 100 percent.”

As for what would define success this season, his outlook was simple. "Anything above last year is satisfactory. Beyond that would be brilliant.”