December 22nd 2024.
It's no secret that Damon Heta isn't exactly on the same page as the bookies. He's been quite vocal about his feelings towards them, stating that they're too easily swayed by the hype surrounding certain players. In particular, he's been questioning why Wessel Nijman, a relatively unknown player, is being given such short odds to win the World Darts Championship.
Heta himself had a successful start to the championship, winning his opening match against Connor Scutt with a score of 3-1. However, despite being the seeded player, he felt like the underdog due to all the buzz surrounding Scutt. After all, Scutt had recently impressed with a 3-0 win over Ben Robb, averaging over 101. Heta believes that the bookies put too much weight on recent performances, without taking into account a player's overall experience and track record.
"Wessel Nijman is fifth favourite to win? Ha! What has he even won?" Heta exclaimed after his match with Scutt. "I mean, sure, he had a great 107 average in the group stage of the Grand Slam of Darts, but he didn't even make it through. Don't get me wrong, he's a great player, but it's not fair to give him such high odds based on just a few good performances on the Pro Tour."
Heta also pointed out that Scutt, who made it to the quarter-finals of the Players Championship Finals, was also given high odds due to his recent form. But Heta knew better than to underestimate his opponent, stating that Scutt has a great head on his shoulders and always puts up a good fight. However, he couldn't help but feel like he had been in this situation before, with the roles reversed.
"It's like when I played Josh Rock in the 2023 World Matchplay," Heta recalled. "I was the higher ranked player, but I wasn't the favourite according to the bookies. It's the same situation here, and I definitely felt like the underdog tonight."
This isn't the first time Heta has spoken out about this issue. Back in 2023, when he faced Rock in the World Matchplay, he was once again not the betting favourite despite being the seeded player. After defeating Rock, Heta couldn't help but voice his frustration. "I've won two pro tours, I'm doing well on the Euro Tour, and I'm not even the favourite? I don't even know what he's won this year. It's just fuel for the fire."
But despite all the hype and odds, Heta remained focused on the task at hand. And he certainly delivered, putting on an impressive performance against Scutt. After dropping the first set, Heta found his rhythm and won nine out of the next 11 legs, securing his spot in the third round. He even came close to hitting a 9-darter, missing double 12 by a hair.
"I'm a bit disappointed that I didn't hit that double 12," Heta admitted. "It was a missed opportunity and it bothered me a bit. But at the end of the day, the win is what matters most. I'm just glad I was able to come out on top, even if it wasn't in the most perfect way."
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