Cameron Menzies entertains crowd at UK Open
Cameron Menzies had the UK Open crowd in stitches with a brilliant bit of self-deprecating comedy during his clash with fellow Scot Peter Wright, reports BritPanorama.
The 36-year-old, who became infamous for injuring himself by punching a table at the World Darts Championship, decided to poke fun at the incident during the mid-session break.
After landing two darts in the triple 20 and collecting them to cheers from the audience, Menzies engaged in some playful banter with fans before jokingly warming up as if he was about to strike the table again. The crowd absolutely loved it, bursting into laughter at his willingness to laugh at himself.
The original incident happened back in December at Alexandra Palace when Menzies lost his cool after a first-round defeat to tournament debutant Charlie Manby. The Scottish thrower repeatedly struck the underside of a drinks table in frustration, leaving blood pouring from his hand as he walked off stage.
It was a moment he’s since called “a massive mistake” in his life, with the scar still visible as a reminder. Menzies has apologised for losing his temper, explaining it came during a difficult period following the death of an uncle. The consequences of that moment of frustration turned out to be severe; Menzies revealed he lost all sensation in his fingers for six weeks and had to undergo surgery.
Surgeons told the 36-year-old he was lucky not to have severed any nerves or tendons; however, he still requires ongoing hand treatment and trauma therapy. Despite the lighter moment, Menzies couldn’t pull off a victory against Wright, who claimed a 10-6 win to progress to the last 32 where he’ll face Dutchman Danny Noppert. Wright previously won the UK Open back in 2017.
Fans on social media were delighted to see Menzies in better spirits. One wrote: “Class to see Menzies laughing again,” while another commented: “Menzies back being the clown.”
The road ahead remains challenging, with doctors assuring him the feeling in his fingers should eventually return. But as Menzies himself acknowledged, he now has to live with being known as “a table puncher.” A stark reminder, perhaps, of how the pressures of sport can sometimes strike a painful chord.
