Darts results: Damon Heta stuns Rob Cross to win Brisbane Darts Masters
Damon Heta produced the biggest shock in the history of World Series events as he stunned Rob Cross to clinch the Brisbane Darts Masters.
The recent BDO Australian Open winner was never ahead in Saturday's final until throwing 170 to leave double 16 in the deciding leg, which he hit at the second attempt to win 8-7 and complete an incredible success which will also go down as one of the biggest surprises in televised darts history.
Heta, who was 250/1 pre-tournament, had beaten major winners James Wade, Gary Anderson and Simon Whitlock to earn a place in the final and added a second world champion to his list of scalps, in the process celebrating his 32nd birthday in style.
“It’s unexplainable," said the champion. "I have just grown throughout this whole tournament. I have worked hard for this and it’s paid off in the end and I am just super stoked.
"I have got to pinch myself just to make sure it’s happening, I am lost for words. I know what I can do and how good I can be and today I showed the world.
"To do that in front of an Australian crowd was amazing and hopefully I’ll be able to come over to the UK soon and when I do people better watch out."
At least you won't ever get VAR ruining celebrations and emotion in darts. An amazing moment from huge outsider Damon Heta to win the Brisbane Darts Masters in a deciding leg on his birthday! He beat four major winners to do it!pic.twitter.com/zsM2JfnZ7K
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) August 10, 2019
Cross had appeared set to collect the title after a dominant 8-3 victory over Daryl Gurney in the semi-finals, during which he fired in an early 170 checkout to take control of the match.
He started the final in a similarly high gear, too, but having been 3-1 ahead once again, this time could not shake off his opponent.
Heta capitalised when Cross missed four darts for a 4-1 lead and then fired in a brilliant 164 finish to level the game at 3-3.
Cross kept edging ahead, and a 90 checkout in the tenth leg gave him a 6-4 lead which looked like it would be enough to finally break the resistance of the local man.
But 'The Heat' took out 75 on double 20 and 68 on double 16 to level the game, then forced a decided after Cross missed double 10 for the title.
In a tense final leg, Heta looked up against it once more before a brazen 170 left double 16, which he hit with his second dart to seal one of the most remarkable victories in memory.
A birthday to remember... Damon Heta lifts his 2019 Brisbane Darts Masters title high to the loving home crowd 🏆 pic.twitter.com/XNWjJeL5c9
— Brisbane Darts Masters (@BrisbaneDarts) August 10, 2019
Cross with himself
Cross, recently crowned World Matchplay champion, will be frustrated not to have made his class and experience count, particularly having breezed through some tough-looking games to make the final.
He had only scraped past James Bailey on Friday, despite averaging 101, but was a comfortable 8-4 winner against Raymond van Barneveld before dominating in-form Gurney, who had earlier seen off Michael van Gerwen 8-5.
170 CHECKOUT!!
— Brisbane Darts Masters (@BrisbaneDarts) August 10, 2019
Rob Cross lands the biggest checkout in the game to lead Daryl Gurney 3-1. #BrisbaneDarts pic.twitter.com/BSwoW0RInr
Heta, though, had built up confidence with Friday's victory over Wade, before a front-running display of real courage to fend off Anderson 8-6, the Scot having clawed his way back into the game from 7-4 down.
In the semi-finals, Heta had to show different qualities having fallen 4-1 behind against Whitlock, who had earlier thrashed Kyle Anderson 8-0.
Heta rattled off five legs in a row, before a fourth maximum of the game set him up to take leg 14 and seal an 8-6 success to reach the final, which he stole with darts of opportunism, class and courage to stun Cross and the wider darting world.
It was another weekend to forget for Michael van Gerwen, who was defeated 8-5 by Daryl Gurney in the quarter-finals as his run of averaging less than 100 stretched into a 14th match.
The Dutchman, whose World Matchplay hopes were ended by Glen Durrant in Blackpool, may have bagged a fifth Masters, fifth Premier League and six other events this season since his third world title but since claiming the last of those at the O2, he's almost been a shadow of his former self.
Brisbane Darts Masters: Final day results
Quarter-finals (Best of 15 legs)
TV Coverage: Delayed on ITV4 from 7pm BST
- Kyle Anderson 0-8 Simon Whitlock
- Damon Heta 8-6 Gary Anderson
- Rob Cross 8-4 Raymond van Barneveld
- Daryl Gurney 8-5 Michael van Gerwen
Semi-finals (Best of 15 legs)
- Damon Heta 8-6 Simon Whitlock
- Rob Cross 8-3 Daryl Gurney
Final (Best of 15 legs)
- Damon Heta 8-7 Rob Cross
Click here for full tournament results
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