The Paddy Power world Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace continued to deliver upsets Sunday, as several top players saw their tournament runs end prematurely. Swiss player Stefan Bellmont‘s remarkable debut run was halted in the second round by Damon Heta, 3-2, despite securing Switzerland’s first-ever victory at the World Championship [[1]]. Elsewhere, former champions Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith also suffered defeats, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the competition.
Trotz seinem Zweitrundenaus hat Stefan Bellmont mit dem ersten Schweizer Sieg an einer Darts-WM Geschichte geschrieben.Bild: keystone
Stefan Bellmont’s historic run at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship came to an end Sunday, falling to Damon Heta 3-2 in a thrilling second-round match at Alexandra Palace in London. Despite the loss, Bellmont secured the first-ever World Championship victory for Switzerland.
22.12.2025, 03:3822.12.2025, 04:23
The 36-year-old from Zug battled hard, but ultimately couldn’t overcome the Australian’s momentum after a back-and-forth contest. Bellmont had stunned darts legend Raymond van Barneveld with a dominant 3-0 victory in the first round, capitalizing on a slow start from his opponent who averaged just 76 points in the opening set.
Heta, who relocated to England several years ago, quickly found his form, averaging 111 points per dart in the second set – a pace Bellmont struggled to match. The result sends Heta into the next stage of the tournament, while marking a significant achievement for the rising Swiss star.
Damon Heta gehört zur Darts-Weltspitze.Bild: keystone
Bellmont refused to buckle under the pressure inside the electric atmosphere of Alexandra Palace, known affectionately as “Ally Pally.” He broke Heta’s throw in the opening leg of the third set, securing his second set of the match and briefly shifting the momentum in his favor.
The Swiss player appeared poised to continue his run, opening the fourth set, but struggled to consistently hit the triple segments as the match wore on, making it difficult to hold his own throw.
Bellmont immediately responded to Heta’s first break of the set, including one of his three maximum 180s, but couldn’t prevent a second break as he narrowly missed double 8 and double 4 for a crucial re-break.
The deciding set remained tight until Heta, nicknamed “The Heat,” found his accuracy in Bellmont’s throwing leg, putting the Swiss player under immense pressure. Heta sealed the victory on his second match dart, ending Bellmont’s impressive run.
21 Places Climbed and on the Verge of Pro Status
Bellmont earned his second World Championship appearance thanks to a strong and consistent season, winning the Challenge Tour – the second-highest series on the darts circuit. This victory not only secured his spot at the prestigious tournament but also earned him a Tour Card, granting him entry into most events on the professional tour for the next two years.
The defeat is a minor setback in an otherwise outstanding season. The stage at Alexandra Palace provided another valuable opportunity to showcase his talent on a global platform. Bellmont’s professional career officially begins in January, where he will compete in tournaments across Europe for prize money.
The second-round appearance at the World Championship earns him £25,000, which he views as a stepping stone for his professional journey. The result also propels him up the world rankings, climbing 21 places from 111th to 90th.
Two Former World Champions Also Eliminated
Alongside Bellmont, three other prominent players exited the tournament Sunday. A particularly surprising result saw Welshman Gerwyn Price, the 2021 World Champion and current world number 9, fall to Dutchman Wesley Plaisier in straight sets, 3-0. Plaisier is ranked 83 places below Price.
Ex-Rugby-Spieler Gerwyn Price ist einer der Superstars der Darts-Szene.Bild: keystone
World number 8 Chris Dobey also suffered an early exit, falling to Andrew Gilding 3-1 in a high-quality match. Gilding averaged a strong 105.
Earlier, Michael “Bully Boy” Smith was eliminated. The 2023 World Champion has been struggling for months, and his form showed no signs of improvement at the championship, losing to 27-year-old Niels Zonneveld of the Netherlands 3-1.
Michael Smith (links) findet weiter nicht zu alter Form zurück.Bild: keystone
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