"Wessel Nijman is what fifth favourite, what's he won?": Damon Heta discerns from social media hype, honest on Premier League chances

Damon Heta nearly made it another perfect leg after Luke Littler missed his as no-one yet has added to the annals of Christian Kist. But at the PDC World Darts Championship, he is through taking down a familiar practice partner and friend in Connor Scutt.

Heta though said he doesn't read a lot into hype on social media and pencilled himself as the outsider for a reason due to for instance Wessel Nijman being fifth favourite despite not winning anything of note.

Follow the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship via our LIVE SCORE!

Read also

Everything about the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship: Schedule, results, TV guide and prize money

"A bit disappointing I didn't hit the double 12, that is all. Disappointed the crowd, myself, £60,000 here or there. It's very frustrating. Got the win and that's the most important. I felt like I was a bit of an underdog in the game. It would've been nice to top it off," said Heta post match.

"When I watched the draw, I thought I've got three weeks what am I going to do with myself as I'm all about the darts. I practice and play, it was hard.

"I knew what I was up for, I knew I had to bring a tough game because it's a tough opponent. If I had someone I didn't know and I looked at his stats and it was like 83 for the season, it might have been in the back of my mind to roll up and get the job done. It doesn't work like that at the World's. Everyone loves an underdog."

It has been constant improvement year on year for 'The Heat' and he spoke about how he has taken his darts forward and why he issued himself as the underdog against Scutt.

"I think last year I did a lot of damage and this year I've maintained a good standard. I think probably the European Tour has let me down. Things don't faze me as much as they would do before."

"There's a lot of hype on social media. Wessel Nijman is what fifth favourite, what's he won? Not taking it away from the kid, 107 average in the group stage (Grand Slam) and not getting through. That's unlucky."

"That's pretty much what it is. Form leading up. Scutt is playing well, I just felt like I've been in this situation before like me v Rock, Cullen. He was the underdog against me and he was the higher ranked player."

The end of an era in Aussie Darts as Simon Whitlock loses Tour Card

It is also the end of an era in Aussie darts and the start of a new one. Simon Whitlock will have to go back to Q-School as he discussed his effect but also the new Australian Premier League in big venues back home has been devised something that Heta is excited about.

"He's definitely put Australian Darts on the map. He was the first man, he was the first to do all that. If it wasn't for him who's to say everything that has been given to darts in Australia would happen. It may not have happened as of yet. He's had a crazy good career, but he's not giving up. He's going to Q-School and playing in this and that. He just can't give it up. He'd be in a crutch and wheelchair and still playing darts, he loves it. We need more from Australia, now it's up to Australian Darts. We need these people to pull through."

But he will also stall Premier League talk until a certain point despite being names falling as he said in his view it is there for a reason and that is as an exhibition roadshow so he needs to do something special to be involved.

"I'd like the Quarters for a good talk and the semi's would be pretty close to being there. It's an exhibition show, you want to see the likes of Gezzy Price. I know he's not had the best year but you probably want to see him as he's giving it all that and is the bad guy. I know I'm Australian and a bad guy but if it was ever offered, I'd take it. I'm all for the rankings and doing what I need to do. That's why I've not done a lot of exhibition work."