PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter has released a statement after Cameron Menzies punched a table following his World Darts Championship defeat against Charlie Manby on Monday afternoon. After losing 3-2 in the first round to debutant Manby, Menzies whacked the underside of the drinks table three times with an uppercut.
The Scot was pictured with blood pouring from a gash on his right hand. A short while after the incident, Menzies, who led 1-0 and 2-1 in the game before suffering a shock defeat, apologised to the Alexandra Palace crowd and said he is « sorry » he « reacted » in that matter. Now, Porter has commented on the incident amid claims Menzies could be fined and receive a potential ban from the sport.
Porter said: « I spoke with Cameron and his management before he left the venue, and he knows there is support available from the PDC and the PDPA. Any incident of this nature is reported to the Darts Regulation Authority for review, but our main priority is the player’s health and wellbeing. »
World no.26 Menzies, who had enjoyed a much-improved 2025 and was more successful on the major TV stage, was apologetic in his statement and admitted his behavour « wasn’t right ». Menzies said: « First of all, I would like to apologise for what happened. I am sorry that I reacted in the manner that I did. It’s not an excuse, but I have had a lot of things on my mind recently and I suppose it all just became too much at the end.
« It has not been an easy time for me with my uncle Gary passing away recently. I saw him four days before he died and he gave a look which told he much he thought of me. He treated me like a son. Had I won the game against Charlie, my second match would have been on the day of Gary’s funeral and that has not been lost on me in recent days.
« 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. Yes I can get emotional at times, but not like that and that wasn’t right. »
Manby, meanwhile, chose not to comment on the incident, saying: « I was doing my own thing. I couldn’t tell you really. » Menzies had led 1-0 and 2-1 in sets before 20-year-old Manby fought back and clinched a 3-2 win with his seventh match dart.
Former Premier League champion Glen Durrant – who commented on the match for Sky Sports – said: « Charlie Manby is a superstar in the making. Sometimes you can build a player up at 20 years old. We thought it was going to be the match of the afternoon and it delivered.
« But it wasn’t the ending we all want to see. For Cameron Menzies, I think he will regret that for the rest of his life. It was not a good watch. » Co-commentator Stuart Pyke added: « I agree, [it was] an extraordinary reaction but we saw him walking off stage and he did put up his hand in apology. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. »
Players can be sanctioned under Darts Regulation Authority rules for aggressive, disruptive or abusive behaviour. It is the second year running that Menzies has been knocked out in the first round after he broke down in tears during and following his surprise defeat to Leonard Gates last December.
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