Scottish darts professional Cameron Menzies has issued a public apology after an explosive display of frustration marred his first-round exit from the World Darts Championship at London's Alexandra Palace.
Emotional Outburst Follows Nail-Biting Defeat
The incident occurred immediately after Menzies' dramatic 3-2 defeat to 20-year-old debutant Charlie Manby on Monday 15 December 2025. Menzies had twice led in the match, taking the opening set and later moving 2-1 ahead, but was ultimately pipped at the post in a tense deciding set.
As Manby celebrated his victory, a visibly upset Menzies turned and violently punched the underside of the table three times, causing water bottles to fall off and drawing boos from the crowd. The Scot was left with a bloody gash on his right hand from the impact.
A Personal Tragedy Behind the Reaction
In a statement released after the match, Menzies offered a heartfelt apology and revealed the personal grief that had weighed heavily on him. He explained that his uncle, Gary, had recently passed away and that his second-round match would have fallen on the day of the funeral.
"First of all, I would like to apologise for what happened. I'm sorry that I reacted in the manner that I did," Menzies said. "It's not an excuse, but I have had a lot of things on my mind and I suppose it all just became too much at the end."
He was quick to add that his personal circumstances did not justify his actions and praised his opponent's performance, stating: "It was the wrong thing to do and I don't want it to take anything away from Charlie. He played well."
Aftermath and Championship Progress
Following the altercation, Menzies was seen congratulating Manby and apologising to the audience before leaving the stage. He was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment to his injured hand.
This marks the second consecutive year Menzies has suffered a first-round exit at the World Darts Championship, having also been eliminated at the same stage in December 2024.
Meanwhile, victor Charlie Manby, ranked 166th in the world and qualifying via the Development Tour, progresses to face the winner of the match between Adam Sevada and Matt Campbell. The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
Elsewhere on the opening day at Ally Pally, former two-time world champion Peter Wright secured a 3-0 win, while Brendan Dolan hit a spectacular 170 checkout during his victory.
