English dart player Luke Littler is credited with a resurgence in the sport's popularity. Photo: Supplied
At the New Zealand Darts Masters in Auckland this weekend, there's big money, professional mindsets and, for spectators, a 'very exciting night out'.
When Australian darts champion Damon Heta aka The Heat does his 'walk-on' to the oche (the line on the floor that players stand behind) for Friday's Darts Masters title in Auckland, he'll be rarking up the fans to a different tune.
The Perth-based world number 10 will be tapping into his Kiwi roots when he walks on to The Exponents' smash hit Why Does Love Do This To Me.
The walk-on theme music is a vital part of the razzmatazz of the World Series of Darts tour and Heta, with his trademark handlebar moustache, is famous for his whacky dancing and headdress of flames. He loves the crowds and the crowds love him.
Usually, on the world tour, Heta gets the fans chanting to Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark, but this weekend he hopes he can win over the famously boisterous crowd with a tried and true Kiwi crowd pleaser.
Damon Heta, The Heat (R) and Ben Robb aka Big Rig. Photo: Sharon Brettkelly
"It's the rugby one, isn't it, that everyone sings to," says Heta, who is proud of his local connections.
"It's crazy. Today I'm going to meet some family that I've never met before."
Heta hopes the Auckland fans will be on his side as he vies for the championship against the world's best, including teen sensation Luke Littler.
He's beaten "the young punk" once and reckons he can put him back in his place again.
"It's like he doesn't have a care in the world, like most teenagers, you know what I mean," he jokes.
"No, fair play to him, he's brought the sport along in leaps and bounds ... so yeah, it's getting good knowledge and expanding the game."
Darts legends, commentator John McDonald, and referee Russ Bray tell The Detail how they've watched it go from a boozy pub game to a global event .
"I go to Mongolia and do darts in Mongolia," says Bray. "The change is massive."
"It's grown beyond anyone's comprehension now," says McDonald. "It's a major sport, second to only the Premier League Football in the United Kingdom, with television ratings that most sports would be envious of.
"So it's grown into this enormous global brand and a very, very exciting night out."
Heta says when he played his first darts match in a pub at the age of 15, he had no idea that he could make big money from it.
"It wasn't until the big boys came over and then finding out that I could compete and from then on I just went on and on and did all the protocols that you need to do to become professional and sure enough I'm back here and I'm one of the big dogs," he says.
New Zealand amateur favourite Ben Robb, aka Big Rig, says the game has developed in the years since he first played in a pub. Top level darts now attracts all ages and women, and the money is so "grand" there is a professional mindset.
Robb reckons mental strength makes the difference at competitions.
"Once everyone learns how to throw a dart it's about being composed, handling big moments, owning the stage and being the big guy. "
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