Cameron Menzies’ World Darts Championship run came to an abrupt and dramatic end — and the fallout was impossible to ignore.
The 36-year-old Scot was visibly furious after being edged out by debutant Charlie Manby, and his frustration boiled over in full view of the Alexandra Palace crowd.
A Match That Slipped Away Dart by Dart
Menzies had the match in his hands but couldn’t quite close it out.
Locked in a tense deciding set, the 26th seed needed a clean checkout to finish the job.
Instead, a missed second dart and a failure to find the double cracked the door wide open — and Manby wasted no time barging through it.
Ally Pally Holds Its Breath Then Erupts
Hands clasped behind his head, Menzies could only watch as the 20-year-old stepped up.
Manby calmly fired in a four, a two, and then nailed double-one.
In an instant, the arena exploded. Ally Pally had its moment, and the underdog had his breakthrough.
Champagne Charlie Savours the Biggest Night of His Life
Manby sprinted down the stage in pure disbelief, soaking up the noise before turning back to applaud the crowd.
For a player making his debut on the sport’s biggest stage, it was a dream scenario — one that earned him the nickname ‘Champagne Charlie’ and the loudest cheers of the evening.
Rage Takes Over as Menzies Loses Control
While Manby celebrated, Menzies went in the opposite direction emotionally.
Seething, he lashed out at the underside of the Paddy Power-branded drinks table, hammering it three times in quick succession.
The punches split his hand open, drawing blood as Manby looked on, stunned.
Boos, Blood and a Realisation Too Late
The crowd didn’t hold back, booing the outburst as Menzies appeared to gesture an apology in their direction.
As he left the stage moments later, reality seemed to hit.
A glance down at his bloodied hands showed just how far his frustration had gone.
A Comeback That Defined a Breakout Performance
Lost in the chaos was just how impressive Manby’s performance had been.
The young Englishman clawed his way back from 2-1 down, showing serious composure despite missing four match darts before finally sealing the win.
An Overwhelmed Winner Takes It All In
Afterwards, Manby struggled to put the moment into words.
He admitted the occasion felt overwhelming but couldn’t hide his joy, praising the tempo and quality of the match.
Most of all, he cherished having the crowd firmly on his side — not bad for a first night on darts’ grandest stage.
A Night Neither Player Will Forget
For Manby, it was the biggest result of his young career.
For Menzies, it was a brutal reminder of how unforgiving the World Championship can be.
One moment of calm versus one moment of chaos — and the darts world witnessed both in the same breath.
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