Heta survives two match darts in deciding leg win over White, Labanauskas eases past Ward

Damon Heta is through after an opening round win at the World Series of Darts Finals in Salzburg reeling off four of the last five legs and surviving two match darts from Ian White to win through 6-5.

The doubles were pivotal in this tie with both players not dazzling with 5/14 for White and 6/22 for Heta but it was the Australian who claimed his first PDC ranking title who won through after the Stoke ace couldn’t close out the tie.

White began by finding double five for an immediate break of throw against Heta. ‘The Heat’ punished ‘Diamond’ who missed multiple darts at doubles to make it 2-0.

The former once again grabbed a break though leading 2-1 after Heta himself missed three at double 20. At the interval though, it was still very much all to play for with Heta hitting an 80 checkout to 3-2.

Heta finally grabbed the break which made it 4-4 but he missed four darts at doubles and White took out 60 to break and go one away.

More doubles were missed this time for the match as White missed two to win and Heta hit a 108 checkout to break and force a decider.

It was Heta who snatched the victory in the end winning through the decider with a 14 darter for the Australian.

Darius Labanauskas is also successfully through to the second round after seeing off Harry Ward in the opener in Salzburg.

In the first game, Ward took the first leg to begin the tie hitting a 180 and double 16 after Labanauskas had missed his chance at double 20.

Labanauskas though wasn’t deterred breaking throw with a 120 checkout to make it 3-1 and at the interval, it was fully turned round with ‘Lucky D’ hitting double 2 to make it 4-1.

Ward responded when he returned from the break hitting a 180 and double eight to make it 4-2. But the Lithuanian went one away with back-to-back 180’s and an 81 checkout and he concluded it in the requisite leg to move through to the next round.

Click here for more information about the World Series of Darts Finals, including the tournament bracket, prize money breakdown and TV Guide.

Harry Ward (85.35) 2-6 (91.43) Darius Labanauskas

Ian White (89.72) 5-6 (89.41) Damon Heta

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