Latest news with #PlayersChampionship13
Scottish Sun
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
I worked 12-hour days as a roofer before becoming a darts star… there's no chance I would suffer from burnout
He even gave a glimpse into his practice routine HIT THE ROOF I worked 12-hour days as a roofer before becoming a darts star… there's no chance I would suffer from burnout DAMON HETA vows he wouldn't get Premier League 'burnout' because he worked 12-hour days as a roofer in Australia! The Aussie admits breaking into the PDC's top four Order of Merit is his big target as he has ambitions of playing in the prestigious PL. Advertisement 2 Damon Heta used to work as a roofer in Australia Credit: Rex 2 He has insisted he will not suffer from burnout Credit: Getty World No. 10 Heta reached the semi-final of the US Masters last weekend but was knocked out by Nathan Aspinall despite averaging 104 and thumping in the big fish. 'The Heat' has been in good form this year as he won Players Championship 13 and made the final of European Darts Open. Heta is confident burnout won't hold him back if he gets a Premier League call-up — claiming the grind of the PDC schedule is easy after years of back-breaking work on roofs Down Under. He told the Tops and Tales podcast: 'Yeah, I'd love getting into that top four and the Premier League. Advertisement READ MORE ON DARTS SORE HAND LUKE Luke Humphries needs X-ray on swollen thumb after incident with darts fan "I find myself pretty conditioned where I don't think I would be one to be burnt out. 'Players talk about burnout and playing too much. But I practice pretty much four hours every day, two here and two there minimum — sometimes even more. 'I always look back and think, you know what I did? I did 12-hour days, six days a week, roofing. 'If I can't chuck darts for 12 hours a day, you know what I mean? Because I can always compare it to back then.' Advertisement JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS He added: 'If I'm ever down about where I am or what I'm doing, I just think, you know what? I've come this far. 'I could be doing this or that. Man, I'm very lucky. I'm throwing darts for a living and I'm travelling. Damon Heta stuns World Darts Championship crowd with incredible nine-darter and even his opponent celebrates 'Even doing an exhibition — you get paid half decent to do an exhibition. Advertisement 'People want to come see you for four or five hours to chuck some darts and have a bit of fun. Man, that's insane.' Former World Cup winner Heta boasts the fourth-highest checkout rate on tour at a tidy 43.13 per cent in 2025. Heta will return to action next week on the ProTour at the Mattioli Arena.
The Irish Sun
30-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
I worked 12-hour days as a roofer before becoming a darts star… there's no chance I would suffer from burnout
DAMON HETA vows he wouldn't get Premier League 'burnout' because he worked 12-hour days as a roofer in Australia! The Aussie admits breaking into the PDC's top four Order of Merit is his big target as he has ambitions of playing in the prestigious PL. Advertisement 2 Damon Heta used to work as a roofer in Australia Credit: Rex 2 He has insisted he will not suffer from burnout Credit: Getty World No. 10 Heta reached the semi-final of the US Masters last weekend but was knocked out by Nathan Aspinall despite averaging 104 and thumping in the big fish. 'The Heat' has been in good form this year as he won Players Championship 13 and made the final of European Darts Open. Heta is confident burnout won't hold him back if he gets a Premier League call-up — claiming the grind of the PDC schedule is easy after years of back-breaking work on roofs Down Under. He told the Tops and Tales podcast: 'Yeah, I'd love getting into that top four and the Premier League. Advertisement READ MORE ON DARTS " 'Players talk about burnout and playing too much. But I practice pretty much four hours every day, two here and two there minimum — sometimes even more. 'I always look back and think, you know what I did? I did 12-hour days, six days a week, roofing. 'If I can't chuck darts for 12 hours a day, you know what I mean? Because I can always compare it to back then.' Advertisement Most read in Darts JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS He added: 'If I'm ever down about where I am or what I'm doing, I just think, you know what? I've come this far. 'I could be doing this or that. Man, I'm very lucky. I'm throwing darts for a living and I'm travelling. Damon Heta stuns World Darts Championship crowd with incredible nine-darter and even his opponent celebrates 'Even doing an exhibition — you get paid half decent to do an exhibition. Advertisement 'People want to come see you for four or five hours to chuck some darts and have a bit of fun. Man, that's insane.' Former World Cup winner Heta boasts the fourth-highest checkout rate on tour at a tidy 43.13 per cent in 2025.
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Damon Heta reveals he wanted to ‘run into the crowd and do something silly' at US Darts Masters
Star revealed why he is not taking his rise for granted CROWDED OUT Damon Heta reveals he wanted to 'run into the crowd and do something silly' at US Darts Masters DAMON HETA revealed he considered running into the crowd during a stellar debut at Madison Square Garden. The World No.10 got his US Darts Masters campaign off to a flying start with a 6-1 demolition over Jim Long. Advertisement 1 Damon Heta considered jumping into the crowd after a storming display Credit: Getty Heta, 37, thumped in three 180s and hit 50 per cent of his doubles on the way to victory. Australian thrower Heta has featured in World Series shows in his homeland but is now soaking up every moment of the experience in the Iconic Venue at the Big Apple. He said: 'I had some fun up there. I don't know if you noticed. It was insane. You just wanted to hit 180s because the crowd wanted it. 'I denied them a few times, got booed a few times, but once I hit one, let it rain, let it pour, it was insane. Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS CROSS WORDS Darts star Rob Cross breaks silence on £450k tax issue that led to ban 'That was brilliant, that was electric. I just really enjoyed myself up there and that's what I wanted to come and do. My darts were flowing, so I was definitely happy to get the win on my first time here.' He added: 'I got confused there because it wasn't just your normal walk on. You had to start from the side and then walk in and there's no barricades, there's no nothing. 'I was like, oh, we're not just sitting there signing, we're just in the mix and there was a moment where I thought: You know what, I might just run into the crowd and do something silly! 'But then I think there might have been a fine and my wife said not to and I was like: Alright, I'll keep it simple and who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll keep the security on their guard!' Advertisement CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Former World Cup winner Heta is proud to feature in the event after climbing the world rankings. He revealed: 'It's probably with reason. You've got to earn your spot, earn your ways and earn your time and, obviously, whether one or two dropped out and that's the way I got my spot, that's fair do's. 'Not the proudest moment of my life' - Darts star Rob Cross breaks silence on £450k tax issue that led to ban 'Even if I didn't get it, that's just fair play for the people that are here, they earned their ways and that's what it is. Advertisement 'When you get in those top echelons, you're not just there on or whatever, you're there because you've put in the hard times and you've done what you needed to do to get there. 'So I'm taking it for all that it is as well. I'm not taking it for granted.' Heta has been in good form this year as he picked up the Players Championship 13 title. He nearly clinched his second Euro Tour title but fell short to Nathan Aspinall in the final of the European Darts Open earlier this month.
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Damon Heta reveals he wanted to ‘run into the crowd and do something silly' at US Darts Masters
DAMON HETA revealed he considered running into the crowd during a stellar debut at Madison Square Garden. The World No.10 got his US Darts Masters campaign off to a flying start with a 6-1 demolition over Jim Long. Advertisement 1 Damon Heta considered jumping into the crowd after a storming display Credit: Getty Heta, 37, thumped in three 180s and hit 50 per cent of his doubles on the way to victory. Australian thrower He said: 'I had some fun up there. I don't know if you noticed. It was insane. You just wanted to hit 180s because the crowd wanted it. 'I denied them a few times, got booed a few times, but once I hit one, let it rain, let it pour, it was insane. Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS 'That was brilliant, that was electric. I just really enjoyed myself up there and that's what I wanted to come and do. My darts were flowing, so I was definitely happy to get the win on my first time here.' He added: 'I got confused there because it wasn't just your normal walk on. You had to start from the side and then walk in and there's no barricades, there's no nothing. 'I was like, oh, we're not just sitting there signing, we're just in the mix and there was a moment where I thought: You know what, I might just run into the crowd and do something silly! 'But then I think there might have been a fine and my wife said not to and I was like: Alright, I'll keep it simple and who knows, maybe tomorrow I'll keep the security on their guard!' Advertisement Most read in Darts CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Former World Cup winner Heta is proud to feature in the event after climbing the world rankings. He revealed: 'It's probably with reason. You've got to earn your spot, earn your ways and earn your time and, obviously, whether one or two dropped out and that's the way I got my spot, that's fair do's. 'Not the proudest moment of my life' - Darts star Rob Cross breaks silence on £450k tax issue that led to ban 'Even if I didn't get it, that's just fair play for the people that are here, they earned their ways and that's what it is. Advertisement 'When you get in those top echelons, you're not just there on or whatever, you're there because you've put in the hard times and you've done what you needed to do to get there. 'So I'm taking it for all that it is as well. I'm not taking it for granted.' Heta has been in good form this year as he picked up the Players Championship 13 title. He nearly clinched his second Euro Tour title but fell short to Nathan Aspinall in the final of the European Darts Open earlier this month. Advertisement
Daily Mirror
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Dimitri van den Bergh makes 'get out of there' admission after darts withdrawal
Dimitri Van den Bergh has opened up on the reasons behind his sudden break from darts earlier this year, having returned to the oche for the World Cup of Darts Dimitri Van den Bergh has made his return to competitive darts at the World Cup of Darts following a recent hiatus that began in April. The 30-year-old chose to step back from the sport indefinitely after suddenly pulling out of a Players Championship event just minutes before his scheduled match, later explaining that he "had to get out of there." Van den Bergh resumed play on Thursday, teaming up with Mike De Decker to represent Belgium in the tournament held in Frankfurt. The pair kicked off their campaign strongly with a 4-1 victory over Latvia in Group B, but then suffered a shock 4-3 defeat to the Philippines to finish in second place - marking Belgium's first elimination in the group stage in World Cup history. Van den Bergh's reappearance comes after a mysterious and sudden exit from the professional scene, which he attributed to both mental strain and physical exhaustion following seven demanding years on the PDC Pro Tour. He notably withdrew moments before facing Jose De Sousa during Players Championship 13 on April 14, catching fans and fellow competitors off guard. The following day, he was also absent from Players Championship 14, further fuelling speculation. In the weeks that followed, Van den Bergh went completely silent - disappearing from public view and staying away from media. He has since shared that he had hit a personal breaking point, prompting him to step back, reset mentally, and reconnect with loved ones. Speaking to HLN this week, Van den Bergh recalled: "I was in the wrong place in Rosmalen, and I had to get out of there. "I was preparing myself and no part of my body said that I was ready to play a tournament, let alone win. I let it get this far myself... but sometimes you just have to dare to take a step back to take a few steps forward. Rejuvenate well. That's what I'm fully engaged in." He also told Het Nieuwsblad: "I was in a difficult position, so I had to take a step back. That was daring. But only in this way can I possibly take several steps forward in time. I have received a lot of support since then, sometimes from surprising places. "That has been nice. There is more to life than darts, I am also sometimes told. They are right. I played all the tournaments for a very long time, but now I know I need to manage a lot more." His long-time manager, Mac Elkin, who has overseen Van den Bergh's career for 12 years and helped guide him to a UK Open title in 2024, acknowledged that the hectic tour schedule had left the Belgian star feeling "burnt out." Elkin commented: "I speak to Dimi every day and he sounds hugely positive. He has chosen to finally take a real rest. Dimi has been playing every tournament on the calendar for 10 years, and that has taken its toll. So like everyone else, he needed a break, to get away from it all. "I'm sitting here in the sun right now, recharging my batteries. Only then will I feel like doing my job again. Just ask Luke Humphries and Michael Smith what they think of the busy schedule. For both, there was a moment in their careers when they wanted to quit. "The season is so packed. And Dimi - who also has to travel often for tournaments - had to play everything because of his ranking. Then on top of that came the Premier League and the World Series. He just completely burnt himself out." In his seven previous World Cup appearances, Van den Bergh has reached the semi-final stage four times, mostly with Kim Huybrechts as his partner. He'll now have to wait until next year to go one further and book Belgium's place in the final for just the second time - and the first since 2013.
