Jenny Segers/PDC Europe

'It was brutal for them out there' - Heta & Whitlock not surprised by Littler & Humphries' shock World Cup of Darts defeat

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | By Kieran Wood | Last updated Jun 15, 2025 8:37 AM ET

Australia made light work of reaching the quarterfinals of the 2025 World Cup of Darts. Without needing to hit top form, Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock brushed aside Argentina with a dominant 8-1 victory. The Aussie duo now face Germany in the last eight, after the hosts stunned title favourites England.

Australia averaged just 85.05, but were never in danger. “Job done. Cruisy. Nice. Job done,” said Whitlock. “We didn’t play our best, but we didn’t have to, to be fair.”

Heta added while talking to dartsnews.com: “We had a plan: get in, break, get in front, put the pressure on. Once we got to that stage, they were down and out. So it was on us just to get the job done.”

Their focus now turns to Germany, who defeated England 8-4 in a major upset. “They’re seasoned players,” Heta said. “They’ve played on the Euro Tour, day session, night session, they’ve won Euro Tours. I think the climate probably played a part today too—it was very humid. I could feel sweat everywhere.”

Whitlock expects Germany may struggle to replicate the same level. “It could be one of those,” he said. “You know when someone beats Michael, they often lose next round. Or they beat Luke, and lose next round. At the end of the day, we just worry about our own game.”

On the atmosphere against the German crowd, both players believe they can handle it. “I think we get booed everywhere we go,” Whitlock joked. “Those guys had two wins under their belt. England had never played together, and you could tell that played a big factor, plus the crowd.”

Asked whether England’s early exit was a surprise, the pair had different takes. “Not at all,” said Whitlock. Heta disagreed: “I’m a little bit. You probably thought each of them relied on the other to do the business. But the crowd was all for Germany. It was brutal for them out there.”

Looking ahead to the clash with the hosts, Heta was clear: “We’ve played a lot of darts. I think we’ll be fine. It’s about using the crowd to our advantage—keep them quiet, get on top, and run away with it. That’s the feeling you want.”

Whitlock added: “If we get on top early and quieten the crowd down a bit, it might be different. They got a good start tonight and the confidence grew—so we’ve got to shut that down.”

The Argentina match brought a very different challenge, but one the Aussies managed with ease. Heta said: “Subconsciously we knew we were playing Argentina, debut, they’d never been in this situation before. We probably took a relaxed approach without knowing. But now, playing someone seasoned, I feel like we’ll be totally different players.”

With finals day approaching, the duo are relishing the chance to compete. Whitlock, who’s no longer a tour card holder, reflected: “I love playing for my country, and I love playing with Damon. I’m enjoying darts more now. No pressure—just have fun.”