"He can play me completely off the board, he just might" - Cameron Menzies realistic for duel with Luke Littler

In the Czech capital Prague, Cameron Menzies secured himself a spot in the second round of the Czech Darts Open. After a difficult start, the Scot fought his way back into the match against veteran Ian White and eventually won 6-3. In doing so, he posted an average of over one hundred points - a record that shows Menzies is in good shape.

Menzies shared praise for Ian White afterwards as well as joking that Littler may leather him in their match on Saturday as he adds another learning experience to his resume at the Czech Darts Open.

Still, the start was anything but smooth. White quickly took a 3-1 lead and seemed to set the tone, but Menzies managed to fight his way back. "I struggled at the start. I felt like he let me in one of the legs, and then that gave me the confidence to kick on." Menzies spoke highly of his opponent. "Honestly, Ian White is one of the best guys I know on tour. I sit with him, he’s a character, he’s an absolute great personality in the sport. I knew Ian’s a great player."

The relief was great, partly because Menzies lost painfully in Prague last year. "Last year I lost 6-5 to Peter Wright. We travel a lot, and I would say Prague is a city that I want to be here for the long run, because I tell you, what a city this is, by the way."

One of the most talked-about names of the moment awaits in the second round: Luke Littler. The 18-year-old super talent has taken the darts world by storm at record speed and is now considered one of the biggest crowd favorites. Menzies realizes he faces a tough task tomorrow.

"Nah. I’ll be honest with you, I’m absolutely buzzing to play, in my opinion, at this moment, the best athlete in the world. I’m a massive Luke Humphries fan, but I feel that Littler right now is the man, and I am buzzing to play him up."

That he is not necessarily the favorite does not seem to bother Menzies. On the contrary, he is looking forward to measuring himself against the youngster. "He may absolutely leather me, but just to play him up here in this venue tomorrow will be an experience, and I’m looking forward to it."

At least the victory over White gives Menzies the necessary confidence heading into the clash with Littler. His average of above 100 shows that he can reach his level on the big stages. Moreover, he exudes fun and relaxation - an important factor on the European Tour, where the crowd often creates an exuberant atmosphere.