Australian Damon Heta can savour a happy Christmas, knowing he'll be back after the festivities to pursue his dream of becoming only his country's second-ever individual world darts champion.
And the colourful English-based thrower from Perth, fresh from opening his campaign at London's Alexandra Palace with a workmanlike 3-1 victory over Martin Lukeman in the second round, is determined to silence those he perceives as his "haters" when his campaign resumes after the Xmas break.
Heta, the 35-year-old former roofer who's uprooted from Western Australia to pursue his darting dream in Britain, has risen to No.10 in the PDC world rankings in less than four years, but still feels his rise hasn't earned him the recognition he deserves.
Instead, he's probably better known for his TV walk-on routines getting to the stage, just as before his match with Lukeman when he donned a zany 'flames' hat to go with his nickname of 'The Heat', earning him a few good-natured boos from the crowd.
"It's been my best year but it still gets talked down. I don't understand it. I've never really got the recognition and that just makes me more hungry, makes me fight more," said Heta, who's out to become the first Aussie to win an individual world title since Tony David took the BDO title in 2002.
"I want to shut up every hater."
He will surely have to improve, though, on his second-round display when he averaged only 89.69 per visit with either Northern Ireland's Josh Rock, one of the game's brightest young stars, or Dutchman Berry van Peer awaiting him in the last-16.
Not that averages bother Heta. "Just get through the first round. A win's a win. People and their stats," he said, sighing.
"I've put everything in to getting where I am and I know I can get better."
The early stages of the tournament have thrown up a new celebrity in 16-year-old English debutant Luke Littler, who's raced into the third round just a month after winning the world youth title.
"It is just unbelievable, I can't wait to come back after Christmas. Being on stage has been amazing and I've loved the support, it's unbelievable," said the youngster from Runcorn, who only turns 17 in January.
"Christmas is going to be very different. We'll do the same thing a family always does and then when I finish my dinner I will get on the board for a good few hours practice.
"I would normally wait for the dinner to be cooked, go on the Xbox, call my mates, speak to them - but I'll be on the board."
With PA
