Damon Heta sent out Alexandra Palace into crisis on Friday afternoon after he struck a mind-blowing nine-dart surface setting off a ₤ 60,000 payment to a random fan in the crowd at the PDC World Darts Championship.

The sensational minute came throughout his second-round clash versus English gamer Luke Woodhouse.

But the Australian could not ride his momentum, with British darts star, Woodhouse returning from going 3-1 down to clinch 9 straight legs of darts and advance to the last 16 at the World Darts Championships for the very first time in his career.

Despite the defeat, Heta will stroll away with ₤ 60k in his pocket, following his impressive nine-dart accomplishment.

For this year's PDC World Darts Championship, Paddy Power are paying an overall of ₤ 180k for every nine-darter scored during the tournament, with the funds to be split three ways.

The player who tosses the perfect leg will get ₤ 60k, a lucky fan at Alexandra Palace will also be handed a ₤ 60k cheque, while the sports betting business are likewise set to contribute ₤ 60k to Prostate Cancer UK, the official Charity partner of the competition.

A fan in the audience who was wearing a yellow trilby hat and a Christamas-themed blazer was selected as the lucky winner of the big prize money.

Damon Heta hit a spectacular nine-dart surface on Friday afternoon at Alexandra Palace

HEROIC HETA HITS THE NINE! ! Damon Heta lands the second nine-darter of the competition to raise the roofing system at Alexandra Palace! #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/DW6rhvFqez

- PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024
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The World No 9 won himself ₤ 60k with the perfect leg, with Paddy Power likewise now set to contribute another 60k to charity and to a random fan in the crowd at Ally Pally

Hilariously another fan had been seen holding an indication behind the guy that checked out Wayne Mardle's iconic 'I can't spake' line, which the legendary darts commentator had said following Michael Smith's nine-darter at the 2023 World Championships.

Paddy Power are likewise contributing ₤ 1,000 for each 180 thrown during this Year's championship as part of their Bigger180 campaign.

Heta's perfect leg was the second nine-dart surface at the tournament. Since today, Paddy Power had actually raised over ₤ 500,000 for charity with 462 180s having actually been struck at the competition prior to the start of this afternoon's session.

The Australian began improperly against Woodhouse, with Heta conceding the very first set, being broken by his opponent in the final leg of the very first set.

He countered in the 2nd term with an exceptional passage of play, racking off two 180s and the last 141 in style.

The 37-year-old Australian, who comes from Perth, jumped around the phase in jubilation and at one point even appeared to leap off the stage.

His challenger, Woodhouse, looked just as thrilled as Heta did, leaping up and down on the stage before revealing his class, providing the Aussie star a hug and raising his hand in the air to celebrate the astonishing accomplishment.

The Brit, 36, has been hailed for his reaction to the moment online, with one fan writing: 'Luke Woodhouse's celebration after Heta's nine-darter is class.'

Paddy Power later on exposed the gentleman who had actually won the ₤ 60,000 prize pot

The minute one of the audience learnt they were ₤ 60,000 richer pic.twitter.com/G0eYn9n2ln

- Sky sports betting Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 27, 2024

Heta (left) and Luke Woodhouse (right) welcomed on stage after the legendary minute

After Heta had actually gone a set down in the very first exchange, his nine-dart surface saw him recuperate versus his British challenger to draw level at 1-1

'Big props to Luke Woodhouse - he's really buzzing for his mate! Love the sportsmanship and excitement!' another wrote on X.

'The way Luke Woodhousecelebrates Damon Heta's nine-darter and raises his hand afterwards is what makes this sport so fantastic,' one wrote.

'The sociability in darts is amazing. Just look at the method Luke Woodhouse, celebrated his challenger's nine-darter earlier,' another stated.

After the match, Woodhouse reviewed the sensational minute that saw his buddy Heta stroll away with ₤ 60k.

'Me and Damo are good friends,' he told Sky sports betting. 'We play golf together a lot. We hang out and practice a lot ...

'I know he was gutted when he missed his double twelve in the very first game.

'So, yeah, when he struck that nine-darter the crowd went wild.

'You couldn't not commemorate with him!'

Luke Woodhouse pic.twitter.com/Oza4ZK63yV

- Martin (@martin_kcr) December 27, 2024

Elated by the marvelous finish, the Australian, who comes from Perth, jumped off the phase in elation

Woodhouse was praised for his reaction to his opponent's nine-dart finish, with some lauding his 'sportsmanship'
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Heta would go on to control in the third set, winning 3-2 and again dominating the fourth, breaking his opponent two times.

But Woodhouse, who is ranked No 35 in the world, recovered, winning all 3 final sets to turn things around on his challenger and progress through to the next round.
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A visibly psychological Woodhouse stated after the match: 'I'm over the moon.'

'It's not just me it's my spouse, my household and my kid. So [I'm doing] really great.'