Cameron Menzies pulled off a stunning upset on Monday night at the World Matchplay, beating the 2024 champion Luke Humphries 10-7 in a match that will be remembered for its drama and high‑scoring fireworks. As the world’s second‑ranked player, Humphries entered the Empress Ballroom as the clear favourite, but the Scottish contender proved that on any given evening, darts can be wonderfully unpredictable. From the opening leg, Menzies signalled that he was not there merely to make up the numbers. He opened with a brilliant double‑double 129 finish, taking a 3-2 lead and immediately putting pressure on Humphries.
The Englishman, known for his composure under fire, responded with a spectacular six‑leg run of his own, highlighted by a dazzling 167 checkout that leveled the scores just after the first interval. The back‑and‑forth momentum made the early stages a true showcase of elite skill. Menzies then unleashed a blistering four‑leg streak, racing to a 7-3 advantage.
For a moment it seemed the match might be slipping away from Humphries, but the Englishman rallied, clawing back five of the next six legs and narrowing the gap. The turning point arrived when Menzies, with the crowd roaring, hit an inspired 170 checkout – the highest possible finish – to seal the decisive leg and send the audience into a frenzy. That checkout not only secured his victory but also booked him a second‑round encounter with fellow Scot Ross Smith.
After the match, a visibly elated Menzies reflected on his achievement: “No one gave me hope. I didn’t give myself hope, but finally winning a game at the Winter Gardens feels amazing.” He praised Humphries, calling him “a great guy and a great player,” and admitted the nerves he felt when he was ahead 7-3: “I was trying not to think about the finishing line, but the pressure kicked in.
Beating Humphries is a huge deal, even if he was giving me a lot of stress at doubles.” Menzies also spoke candidly about his emotional nature on stage. “I show a lot of emotion and I hate that I do. I’m trying to keep myself composed because I know he was going to have a spell and batter me, and he did have a little spell, but lucky enough I had that lead.” He concluded with a modest smile: “I know that’s not Humphries, but I’ll take it any day of the week.” Former world champion Wayne Mardle, commenting for Sky Sports, described the win as “Humphries’ best ever defeat, and he even mentioned that.” Mardle highlighted Menzies’ roller‑coaster of emotions: “He was broken back early twice, then he went on a run, got pegged back, and still held it together beautifully.
Humphries had an amazing spell of four legs, but Menzies found his level again – something we don’t see enough of.” Mardle added that the Scottish player should take pride in how he handled the pressure, noting that the experience will serve him well in future high‑stakes matches. The night also featured other notable results.
Ross Smith survived a tense battle against debutant Kevin Doets, who posted a respectable 104.19 average and produced a 160 finish and a match‑winning 120. Smith, however, turned the tables with a crucial 161 checkout, eventually securing a 5-0 lead before closing the match with a spectacular 120 Shanghai finish. In another upset, former World Matchplay finalist Gerwyn Price escaped a frightening early deficit against Germany’s top‑ranked Martin Schindler.
After trailing 4-0 and later 6-2, Price rallied, capitalising on Schindler’s missed outer‑ring darts to claim an 11-9 victory. Reflecting on the narrow escape, Price admitted, “Without the crowd I would have lost today.
That was the worst I’ve played all season, but I survived.” He joked about his own performance, saying, “Throwing sheep about instead of darts doesn’t help!” and expressed relief at staying in the tournament. Price’s next opponent will be Rob Cross, while ‘Voltage’ (Michael van Gerwen) kicked off his campaign with a convincing 10-3 win over Danny Noppert, averaging 97.41 and hitting a 128 checkout. Van Gerwen’s double‑percentage of 52.6 underscored his clinical finishing.
The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay continues at the iconic Winter Gardens from July 18‑26, featuring a 32‑player field vying for the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy. Highlights include two‑time world champion Luke Littler, who will defend his title against Nathan Aspinall after a dominant 10-6 opening‑day win over Niko Springer, and Stephen Bunting, who edged past debutant Niels Zonneveld 13-12 after surviving three match darts. Veteran Michael van Gerwen will face fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, while 2018 champion Gary Anderson meets 2023 runner‑up Jonny Clayton after Anderson recorded the eighth‑highest average in World Matchplay history – a blistering 109.96 in his 10-2 demolition of Ryan Joyce.
Fans can follow every dart thrown via Sky Sports, NOW, and the Sky Sports WhatsApp channel for live updates, video highlights, and expert analysis. The tournament promises more upsets, high‑checkouts, and unforgettable moments as the world’s best compete on the historic Winter Gardens stage.