Cameron Menzies apologises after emotional outburst at World Darts Championship
Cameron Menzies has issued a personal apology to Charlie Manby following an emotional outburst at Alexandra Palace that overshadowed his exit from the World Darts Championship, with the Scottish player admitting his behaviour crossed a line after a bruising defeat, reports BritPanorama.
The 36-year-old was knocked out of the tournament in a dramatic second-round match by 20-year-old debutant Charlie Manby, who edged to a tense 3–2 victory that went down to the final moments.
As the magnitude of the loss sank in, Menzies reacted angrily on stage, punching his drinks table three times and leaving his hand bloodied. He also caused concern by placing his hand over a pyrotechnics cannon while it was still fizzing, prompting alarm among officials and viewers alike.
The scenes quickly drew widespread attention, threatening to eclipse Manby’s breakthrough performance, which secured him a place in the second round against Adam Sevada. Menzies reached out directly to the young Englishman to apologise via social media.
“Hi all. Wishing Charlie Manby all the best tonight in his match against Adam Sevada,” Menzies wrote. In a subsequent statement, he expressed regret for his actions, saying, “I have spoken to Charlie personally and apologised to him for my actions. He understood that I was caught up in my own moment of frustration and that it was nothing personal towards him, or his win.”
Menzies’ statement followed an earlier and deeply personal explanation regarding a family bereavement that had weighed heavily on him. He disclosed that his uncle Gary had passed away shortly before the tournament, describing him as a paternal figure whose support had shaped much of his life. “It has not been an easy time for me with my uncle Gary passing away recently,” Menzies said.
He noted that the timing of the tournament had compounded the emotional strain. Had he beaten Manby, his next match would have coincided with his uncle’s funeral. “That has not been lost on me in recent days,” he added, while stressing that grief was not an excuse for his actions. “Let me say again, that’s no excuse for what I did on the stage. It was the wrong thing to do and I don’t want it to take anything away from Charlie. He played well and deserved his win. This is not how I would like people to view me.”
Manby’s victory itself was a notable moment in the championship. The youngster has been one of the standout performers on the Youth Development Tour, posting a remarkable 130.70 average earlier this season, and his composure under pressure at Alexandra Palace further enhanced his growing reputation. Menzies, however, appears to have put his agonising defeat behind him.
In a competition where the stakes are high and the emotions run deep, Menzies’ outburst serves as a reminder of the thin line between passion and decorum in sports — a line easily crossed in the heat of the moment.
