Cameron Menzies pulled off a spectacular surprise on Monday night at the World Matchplay, edging out the 2024 champion Luke Humphries by a 10-7 margin. The encounter pitted the world No.2, Humphries, against one of darts' most flamboyant and unpredictable competitors – the Scottish talent Menzies – and it quickly turned into a showcase of high‑octane drama. From the outset, the atmosphere in the Empress Ballroom was electric. Menzies, known for his lively on‑stage personality, raised the roof with a breathtaking 170 checkout that left the former world champion stunned and secured his inaugural victory on the historic Winter Gardens stage.
The crowd’s roar echoed through the hall as the Scotsman celebrated the perfect finish, a moment that will be replayed in highlight reels for years to come. Early in the match, Menzies demonstrated his scoring power with a double‑double 129 finish that gave him a 3-2 lead. However, Humphries, often dubbed "Cool Hand," responded with a series of six consecutive breaks of throw, highlighted by a magnificent 167 checkout that leveled the scores just after the first interval. The back‑and‑forth exchange set the tone for what would become a tightly contested battle.
Menzies then unleashed a blistering four‑leg run, propelling him to a 7-3 advantage. Yet the momentum shifted as Humphries rallied, capturing one leg out of the next five before the Scotsman reclaimed the initiative. The pivotal moment arrived when Menzies executed an inspired 170 checkout, a feat that not only shocked the audience but also cemented his place in the second round, where he will face Ross Smith.
Reflecting on his triumph, a visibly elated Menzies admitted, "No one gave me hope! I didn’t give myself hope, but I finally won a game at the Winter Gardens." His words captured the disbelief and joy of achieving a landmark victory on a stage that had previously seemed out of reach.
Humphries, gracious in defeat, praised his opponent, saying, "Luke Humphries is a great guy, a great player. At 7-3 I was just trying not to think of that finishing line but the nerves kicked in. To beat Humphries, I know he will be disappointed. He gave me a lot of stress at doubles but that's my biggest win." He went on to explain his emotional response, noting, "I show a lot of emotion and I hate that I do that.
I'm trying to keep myself intact, try to keep myself composed because I know he was going to have a spell and batter me and he had a little spell but lucky enough I had that lead. I know that's not Humphries but I'll take it any day of the week." Former world number one Wayne Mardle weighed in for Sky Sports, calling the upset "his best ever win." He highlighted Menzies' resilience, stating, "With Cameron Menzies, everyone mentions his emotions, but it's the way he had to win that game. Nothing went according to plan.
He was broken back early twice, that's up‑and‑down emotions. The high of breaking to being broken back.
Then he went on a run, and got pegged back. There was a lot happening in that game, but he held it all together beautifully. Humphries had an amazing spell of four legs, but then Menzies found a level again, and that's something we don't see enough. What he should take away from tonight was the way he handled this situation.
It was like he was there a million times before. He knows he can handle anything now." The night also featured other notable matches.
Ross Smith survived a tense battle against debutant Kevin Doets, who posted a 104.19 average and hit a 160 finish, before Smith clinched a match‑winning 120 checkout to advance. In a separate thriller, "Hawkeye" delivered a stunning 161 checkout that saved his match, while Smith later sealed his victory with a spectacular 120 Shanghai finish after building an early 5-0 lead.
Former World Matchplay finalist Gerwyn Price endured a dramatic scare against Germany's top player Martin Schindler. After falling behind 4-0 and later 6-2, Price rallied to win 11-9, attributing his comeback to the crowd's support.
He confessed, "It doesn't usually happen. Without the crowd, I would have lost today. That was the worst I've played all season. It goes to show, throwing sheep about instead of darts about, it doesn't help!
It was a tough one for me. I've got no confidence at the minute because I haven't played a lot. To battle through it.
Martin was just as rubbish as me, thankfully. That was one I should have lost, but I've won and I'm still in the tournament – I can't be any worse!" Price's next challenge will be against Rob Cross, while "Voltage" opened his campaign with a convincing 10-3 win over Danny Noppert, averaging 97.41 and finishing with a 128 checkout and a 52.6% success rate on doubles. Looking ahead, the 2026 Betfred World Matchplay continues at the iconic Winter Gardens from July 18‑26, featuring a 32‑player field competing for the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy. Highlights include two‑time world champion Luke Littler taking on Nathan Aspinall after a dominant 10-6 opening win, Stephen Bunting edging past Josh Rock in a nail‑biter 13-12, and Michael van Gerwen facing Dirk van Duijvenbode.
Gary Anderson, the 2018 champion, will meet 2023 runner‑up Jonny Clayton after recording an impressive 109.96 average in his 10-2 demolition of Ryan Joyce. Fans can follow every dart‑throwing moment on Sky Sports, stream live action via NOW, and stay updated through Sky Sports' WhatsApp channel for the latest news, videos, and analysis.
The tournament promises more upsets, high finishes, and unforgettable drama as the world’s best compete for one of darts’ most prestigious titles.