Blackpool: Cameron Menzies withdraws from World Matchplay after becoming unwell on stage
Menzies becomes unwell during match
During his second-round match against Ross Smith at the World Matchplay Darts, Cameron Menzies became unwell on stage. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening at the Winter Gardens. Menzies was leading Smith 2-1 in the match when he appeared to become unsteady and doubled over in discomfort. Smith and match officials quickly came to his aid.
Following the incident, Menzies received medical attention after being taken from the stage. The PDC later confirmed that Menzies had experienced high blood pressure, which led to him feeling dizzy and subsequently fainting. After medical assessments, Menzies was deemed well enough to return to his accommodation.
The match was officially abandoned, with Ross Smith progressing to the quarter-finals. He is set to face either Gerwyn Price or Rob Cross in the next round. A statement from the PDC wished Menzies well and expressed anticipation for his return to action soon. Following a brief intermission, the match between Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman commenced.
Reaction and recent form
Sky Sports‘ Glen Durrant commented on the situation, stating that the thoughts of everyone were with Cameron Menzies, noting that he was in “tip-top form at the moment” and describing the situation as “a real tough one to take.” The broadcast from Sky Sports was temporarily cut during the incident. Host Emma Paton later confirmed that Menzies would not be returning to complete his match due to medical advice, after being attended to by St John’s Ambulance and medics.
This incident follows one of Menzies’ significant career achievements earlier in the week. On Monday, he advanced to the second round of the World Matchplay Darts by defeating 2024 champion Luke Humphries with a 10-7 victory. Menzies described this win as “the biggest moment of my darts career.” He secured the win against the world No 2 with a Big Fish checkout.
Reflecting on his victory against Humphries, Menzies stated that he believed he could cause an upset and that he played “really well.” He acknowledged that he needed to capitalise on every chance given by Humphries, noting that it is uncommon for Humphries to provide many opportunities. Menzies expressed happiness with his performance, mentioning that he “stole a few legs to win,” which contributed to what he considered the best moment of his darts career.
Menzies’ journey in darts
Menzies, who is 37 years old, had previously considered leaving professional darts. Only a couple of years ago, he transitioned from his day job as a plumber to focus on darts full-time. His career faced a period of uncertainty following a previous performance at the World Championship, where he reacted strongly after a defeat to Charlie Manby.
During that time, Menzies’ mood was reportedly low, leading him to contemplate returning to his former profession. He admitted to thinking, “Is this it for me? Am I going to have to go back to being a plumber?” This reflection occurred prior to his participation in the current World Matchplay event. Despite these past considerations, Menzies has continued to compete at a high level, culminating in his recent significant victory over Luke Humphries.
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Source: skysports.com
As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”
