Darts star speaks out on Premier League snub and opens up on holding ‘talks’ | Other | Sport
Darts star Damon Heta has revealed he wasn’t contacted for talks by Premier League bosses after missing out on the line-up for 2025. The eight players were confirmed on Monday afternoon, with former world champions Michael Smith and Peter Wright the two players omitted from last year.
World Championship semi-finalists Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey were the two to replace them, despite many calls from fans for Heta to be included.
The charismatic Australian wowed the crowd at Ally Pally last month with a nine-dart leg in his third round match with Luke Woodhouse, although he went on to lose the contest.
After learning of the widespread disappointment to him being snubbed, the world No.8 posted his own statement of clarification on X. “Well as usual there’s a lot of of strong feelings surrounding the PL pickings (I don’t trend very often),” he wrote.
“I wasn’t expecting to be picked in the Premier League and I know I wasn’t even in the talks with the board for it. But I appreciate every single one of you who put me in their line-up and had faith I was going to be there.
“I didn’t move to England to play Premier League, I have been pretty open about that over the years. If it happens one day it happens but I’ll continue to work hard and what will be will be.”
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Heta, 37, was a UK Open semi-finalist this year, and burst onto the scene in 2019 when he beat Rob Cross to win the Brisbane Darts Masters. He joined the PDC circuit a year later, and has since become a popular figure for his fearless attitude and willingness to engage with crowds when on stage.
And Sky Sports Darts pundit Mark Webster thinks ‘The Heat’ has been unlucky to miss out. “I personally think Damon would cope with the Premier League,” he said. “It’s just getting him in there. I’d think he’d be fine in that environment, I think it would be made for him.
“He’s just got to get a bit stronger on the big stage but yeah, he can feel aggrieved. So much dedication to what he’s doing, he’s relocated from Australia, and he’s so committed as well he never misses events. A strong 12 months for him and we could be talking about him being in it next year.”
Webster’s college Richard Ashdown meanwhile, suggested Heta would have been selected had he followed up his nine-darter by beating Woodhouse and going far in the tournament. “I think with Heta, the way his stage persona is, he seems an ideal Premier League fit,” he said.
Callan Rydz was another player fans had speculated would be included. Since the line-up was confirmed, PDC Chief Executive Matthew Porter has insisted that the “door isn’t closed on anyone” and said Premier League organisers would be open to different selections again next year.
