Damon Heta delivered a darting masterclass on his return to home soil, producing the performance of the opening night at the KenoGO Australian Darts Masters.
Australian number one Heta took centre stage in Wollongong, averaging 109.98 and landing four ton-plus checkouts to dispatch two-time World Championship qualifier James Bailey in six straight legs.
Heta was relentless from start to finish at the WIN Entertainment Centre, kicking off proceedings with successive 121 finishes, while also taking out 117 and 104 on his way to a whitewash win.
“I just felt really comfortable up there,” reflected home favourite Heta, who also produced an 11-darter in leg five.
“I just want to perform, so to do that in front of my friends and family – I loved it.
“I’m forever grateful that I can come home and get this support, and hopefully I can build on that performance tomorrow.”
Friday’s first round saw the eight PDC superstars complete a clean sweep against their Oceanic counterparts, as Josh Rock enjoyed a dream World Series debut Down Under.
The Northern Irishman averaged 108.16 to complete a thumping 6-1 victory over Australian icon Simon Whitlock, landing four 180s and pinning six of his eight attempts at double in the process.
“I didn’t actually feel any nerves tonight,” admitted Rock, a World Matchplay semi-finalist last month.
“I really enjoyed my first experience of playing in Australia, and I’m very happy with that performance.”
Rock’s reward will be a showdown against top seed Stephen Bunting, who landed a ton-topping average of his own to sweep aside debutant Brody Klinge by the same 6-1 scoreline.
Klinge staved off the prospect of a whitewash defeat with a magnificent 161 checkout, only for Bunting to reply with a 14-darter to cap off an excellent performance.
Reigning champion Gerwyn Price also averaged over a ton as he began his bid for back-to-back titles with a 6-3 success against DPA number one Joe Comito.
Comito twice kicked off legs with five perfect darts in his best performance on the World Series stage, although it wasn’t enough to overcome the ruthless Welshman, who advanced with a 100.45 average.
“I wasn’t firing on all cylinders, but a win is a win,” claimed the Welshman.
“Joe hit some good scores at the right time and put me under pressure, but winning breeds confidence, and that’s all I want at the minute.”
World number one Luke Humphries and Luke Littler will also star in Finals Day on Saturday, after defying sluggish starts to see off New Zealand duo Jonny Tata and Haupai Puha.
Humphries overturned an early 2-0 deficit to run out a 6-3 winner against Tata, aided by a brilliant burst of 13, 13 and 12-dart legs midway through the contest.
“The win is all that matters,” insisted Humphries, who lifted the US Darts Masters title back in June.
“I started off the game really poorly, but I find that sometimes when I’m behind I produce my best darts, and that’s what I did tonight.”
Littler meanwhile, edged out Puha in a dramatic decider, after New Zealand’s number one fired in back-to-back 12-darters to establish a 4-3 cushion.
Chris Dobey also survived a scare in seeing off Tim Pusey, reeling off four straight legs from 4-2 adrift to book his place in the quarter-finals, where he will take on reigning champion Price.
Elsewhere, World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker marked his World Series debut with a 6-2 victory over fellow newcomer Brandon Weening, converting six of his ten attempts at double to triumph.
Following Friday’s action, the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final will take place on a bumper session on Saturday, with Bunting and Rock set to lock horns in the evening’s opener.
Littler will take on Heta, Price then plays Dobey, before Humphries and De Decker renew their rivalry in a repeat of October’s World Grand Prix showpiece.
The KenoGO Australian Darts Masters is being broadcast live on Fox Sports in Australia, through DAZN in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and on PDCTV in all other global territories.
UK fans can also watch live on PDCTV and ITVX, with delayed coverage on ITV4 beginning from 1900 BST on Friday, and 1700 BST on Saturday.
2025 KenoGO Australian Darts Masters
Friday August 8
Round One
Mike De Decker 6-2 Brandon Weening
Gerwyn Price 6-3 Joe Comito
Stephen Bunting 6-1 Brody Klinge
Luke Humphries 6-3 Jonny Tata
Damon Heta 6-0 James Bailey
Luke Littler 6-5 Haupai Puha
Josh Rock v Simon Whitlock
Chris Dobey 6-4 Tim Pusey
Saturday August 9 (1900 AEST)
Quarter-Finals
Stephen Bunting v Josh Rock
Luke Littler v Damon Heta
Gerwyn Price v Chris Dobey
Luke Humphries v Mike De Decker
Best of 11 legs
Semi-Finals
Bunting/Rock v Littler/Heta
Price/Dobey v Humphries/De Decker
Best of 13 legs
Final
v
Best of 15 legs