Drama and Nine-Darters Rock the World Championship
The 2025 World Darts Championship continues to deliver thrilling action, with shocking upsets, stunning nine-darters, and nail-biting finishes. Fans at Alexandra Palace witnessed a rollercoaster of emotions as both established names and rising contenders battled it out for glory.
Clutch Victory for Clayton
Seventh seed Jonny Clayton edged out two-time premier event winner Daryl Gurney in a captivating seven-set clash. Clayton initially appeared dominant, racing to a 3-0 lead and seemingly cruising towards victory. However, Gurney staged an incredible comeback, leveling the match at 3-3 with a powerful display of scoring. In the end, Clayton held his nerve in a tense decider to secure a hard-fought win, marking his second successive narrow victory over Irish opposition.
Heta’s Nine-Darter Leaves Fans Speechless
Nine-darters have become synonymous with Alexandra Palace, and Damon Heta etched his name in the history books with a brilliant display. The Australian, seeded ninth, unleashed darting perfection in the second set of his third-round match against Luke Woodhouse.
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
He followed up successive 180s with a treble 20 and treble 19 before skateboarding his ninth dart into the outer ring to seal the goosebumps-inducing feat. The achievement, the second nine-darter of the tournament and 16th at the World Championship, was met with ecstatic roars from the crowd.
While Heta’s joy was short-lived as Woodhouse rallied for a thrilling 4-3 victory, the Australian’s stunning nine-darter earned him a handsome £60,000 payday and also sparked a celebration for a lucky fan in the crowd who won a further £60,000, with an additional £60,000 donated to Prostate Cancer UK.
Bunting Rallies to Victory
Crowd favorite Stephen Bunting enjoyed a more straightforward afternoon, outclassing Madars Razma to claim a convincing 4-1 victory.
As the tournament progresses, anticipation is building for the upcoming matchups. Irish duo Josh Rock and Brendan Dolan will be aiming to avoid a repeat of their countrymen’s fortunes, when they face Chris Dobey and three-time champion Michael Van Gerwen respectively.
Keep your eyes glued to the Alexandra Palace as the drama continues to unfold.
What are your predictions for the rest of the tournament? Let us know in the comments below!