Luke Woodhouse took a brilliant win over 9th seed Damon Heta as the World Darts Championship returned on Friday afternoon.
Englishman Woodhouse had only reached the third round at Ally Pally once before, losing out to Dimitri van den Bergh in 2020 before a string of first- and second-round exits in recent years.
The 36-year-old took one of the biggest wins of his darts career thus far on Friday, in a seven-set thriller that ebbed and flowed in North London.
Woodhouse fought back from 3-1 down after four sets to prevail and was in total control by the time the game reached the final two sets.
However, his impressive victory was almost overshadowed by his opponent pulling out a sensational 9-darter midway through the second set.
HEROIC HETA HITS THE NINE! 🔥
UNBELIEVABLE SCENES! 🤯
Damon Heta lands the second nine-darter of the tournament to raise the roof at Alexandra Palace! #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/DW6rhvFqez— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024
It was just the second nine-dart finish of this tournament and had the crowd on their feet.
However, it was the reaction of opponent Woodhouse that caught the eye of many viewers watching on TV.
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World Darts Championship: Damon Heta hits sensational 9-darter
Damon Heta was understandably ecstatic after landing the first televised 9-darter of his career at Alexandra Palace.
After landing the D12 finish, Heta sprinted off to celebrate with the crowd, who reciprocated by raising the roof of the iconic London venue.
However, the best of the lot was the angle facing out to the audience, which caught his opponent Luke Woodhouse similarly swept up in the excitement of the moment.
Woodhouse reaction to the 9 😂😂 incredible pic.twitter.com/pogTf6ufI7
— DartsAnonymous (@anonymous_darts) December 27, 2024
Woodhouse fist pumped and lept in the air after the finish was secured, and encouraged the crowd to bring even more noise.
The two then shared a warm embrace, with Woodhouse congratulating his counterpart on a memorable leg.
It was a brilliant moment of sportsmanship and the fever pitch atmosphere summed up the energy of the darts at Ally Pally this Christmas.
A thriller of a game would be won by Woodhouse after seven sets, with the Englishman progressing to a fourth-round matchup with Stephen Bunting this weekend.
However, the 9-dart finish secured by Damon Heta is among the best moments of the World Darts Championship thus far, and epitomised what we all love so much about festive dart frenzy.
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