Menzies, who was seeded 26th in the tournament, encountered a 20-year-old debutant named Charlie Manby at Alexandra Palace in London. The game was very intense and competitive. Menzies took a lead on two instances in the game. Menzies started the game on a strong footing as he took the first set. Later on in the game, he was 2-1 up and was in a dominating position throughout. But Manby, who ranked 166th in the PDC rankings in the world, maintained a very calm and composed attitude throughout.
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As Manby celebrated his surprise win with 3-2, Menzies reacted irritably. He punched the underside of the drinks table thrice, and the water bottles went all over the place. The impact of the punches resulted in a visible gash on his right hand. Referee Bevins had to interfere, urging Menzies to stop what he was doing as the onlookers booed in disapproval.
Cameron Menzies Destroys Hand by Punching Table Repeatedly after Losing 2-3 to 20-year-old Charlie Manby in First Round of World Darts Championship
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He congratulates his opponent and then leaves the stage while visibly shaken. He raised his left hand to apologise for his behaviour to the audience, though photos would soon reveal that blood was pouring out of his injured hand as he walked off the stage.
Menzies soon apologised for what had happened. Menzies admitted that he did the wrong thing by letting his frustration get the best of him. “First of all, I would like to apologise for what happened. I am sorry that I reacted in the manner that I did,” he said.
This eclipsed what was supposed to have been a watershed occasion for Manby, who impressed in his first-ever World Championship. This was the second successive first-round exit for Menzies in the championship.
Last year, he had broken down in tears following an early exit, showing how this championship had emotionally affected him.
However, the focus has mainly been on Menzies’ outburst. Manby’s display should have been noted. At only 20, he has shown a lot of character for a young man. Given that he comes from Huddersfield and has already made it into the highlight reel for this championship season with a win against a seed, Manby is already poised to make a name for himself in this sport.
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has not taken any actions against Menzies, but this kind of incident is not appreciated in professional sporting events. Darts, despite being a competitive sport, is known for its sportsmanship and respect exhibited by the players. Issues like the current one bring out the kind of pressures players undergo in high-level events, especially the World Championship held at the illustrious Alexandra Palace.
Menzies will face the task of trying to regain his calmness and prepare for future tournaments. His apology does him no good in terms of regaining respect, but this episode will go down in history as one of the darkest moments in his darts career. Manby hopes that this victory is the beginning of something great in professional darts.
The frustration of Cameron Menzies finally boiled over with a bang after he lost to Charlie Manby, leaving his hand bloodied and prompting a genuine apology to the audience at large. While his display was condemned, it has, in a way, brought to the fore the level of passion that exists at the World Darts Championship. Manby’s win, on the other hand, heralds the onset of a new star in international darts competitions.
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