World Championship quarter-finalists Charlie Manby and James Hurrell had to be separated by a referee after a heated UK Open clash in Minehead. The pair, who both reached the last eight at Alexandra Palace earlier this year, faced off in the opening round of the tournament, often dubbed the 'FA Cup of darts'.
Tensions flared when Hurrell, ranked 50th in the world, appeared to mock Manby as he stepped up to throw his match-winning darts. Hurrell was seen putting his fingers in his ears and pulling faces, continuing to grimace and laugh after Manby hit double four to seal a 6-4 victory. The incident sparked a verbal exchange between the two players, with Manby clearly unhappy with his opponent's behaviour.
As the pair confronted each other on stage, the referee was forced to intervene and persuade Manby to leave. The atmosphere grew more intense as fans shouted support for Manby, seemingly aggravating Hurrell further. Hurrell left the stage to boos and whistles, while Manby celebrated with a defiant fist pump, drawing cheers from the crowd.
Speaking after the match, Manby explained his perspective. 'I just don't think he was happy with me giving it the biggun when there's a lot riding on it,' he said. 'There's no friends on the oche. If I want to give it the biggun, I'll give it the biggun.'
This was not the first time Manby has been involved in on-stage drama. During his Alexandra Palace debut, he faced Cameron Menzies, who famously pounded the drinks table after losing, cutting his hand open and leaving the crowd stunned.
