Damon Heta battled past Madars Razma 6-4 in a scrappy, break-heavy opening-round tie at the European Darts Grand Prix on Friday night, securing a much-needed victory amid an inconsistent start to the 2026 season. The chaotic contest saw six consecutive breaks of throw early on, with Heta doing enough in the closing stages to advance. In a candid post-match interview with Dartsnews.com, the Australian admitted, "It was definitely a battle. All those breaks of throw put pressure on your own throw, so you just have to get the job done. I'm really happy I hit the doubles at the end. He missed at a key moment and that gave me the opportunity, and I took it with both hands."
Reflecting on his wider form, Heta acknowledged that overthinking has hampered him, stating, "I'm my own worst enemy sometimes, getting in my own way really." He emphasized the importance of the win, adding, "Especially when you haven't been winning as consistently as you'd like. It feels like a bit of weight off the shoulders. You can relax a little more and just let the darts do the talking. I know how to throw darts, it's about not overthinking it." Despite solid statistics, Heta noted results haven't always followed, saying, "I think I've played half decent. If you look at the stats, they're there, just not the results. I've got to convert these."
Heta revealed he has made small adjustments to his setup to improve consistency, explaining, "I didn't like the way my darts were sitting with the long point. For some reason they started laying a bit flatter, which I just didn't like. Rather than try and change my throw for that, it was better to change my setup to suit my throw." He reiterated his determination for better outcomes, asserting, "I'm one that works so hard, so I demand results." Confident in a turnaround, he declared, "It just shows that I've got a lot of scars at the moment. And if people are looking at me on the way down, well, I tell you what, the comeback will be bigger than the setback."
Next up for Heta is a second-round clash with Martin Schindler in front of a partisan home crowd. Unfazed by the challenge, he said, "It doesn't matter. You know me and Martin, he'll turn up, I'll turn up. If he's on his home turf with a home crowd, he's going to turn up. That's all I've got to look at." His focus remains on his own game, adding, "I've really got to just put my head down, play my game, don't worry about what's going on and just let the darts flow and not think about it." With this win boosting his confidence, Heta heads into Saturday determined to build momentum.
