"I got a lot of grief recently – The Sun quoted me out of context": Cameron Menzies attempting to rein in emotions as social media abuse takes toll

Cameron Menzies says he is trying to keep his emotions in check after sealing a place in his second televised quarter-final with a 3–1 win over Rob Cross at the 2025 World Grand Prix. The Scottish showman, whose talent is matched only by his candour, admitted he’s still learning to handle the pressures that come with success and visibility — both on stage and online.

Menzies looked set for a straight-sets win before a flurry of missed doubles allowed Cross back into the contest. But after losing the third set, he composed himself to close out the match in four, sealing another major scalp after his first-round triumph over Chris Dobey. “If you watched the game, you’d have seen it all,” he said in his post-match press conference afterwards. “Bobby wasn’t really Bobby up there, but I thought I played well. I’ll be honest — I thought I’d blown my chance when I missed those darts at double. That’s why there was so much emotion at the end. I felt happy and relieved at the same time.”

Despite the nervy third set, Menzies’ numbers told the story of a confident, attacking display. He averaged 84.45 with six maximums and a 136 checkout, while Cross, averaging 81.27, was made to chase throughout.

The Scot’s victory sees him book a Friday night showdown with world number one Luke Humphries — a prospect Menzies is taking in typically unfiltered fashion. “I don’t really care who I play,” he smiled. “I mean, I do care, but I’ve punched above my weight this week. Last year I didn’t even win a leg, so to be here in the quarter-finals… yeah, I’m chuffed. Whatever happens next, I’m proud.”

What makes Menzies so compelling is his openness — both about his struggles and his mindset. He admitted to battling “negative thoughts” during the Cross match but credited his coach for helping him focus on the positives.

“I’ve got a coach who tells me to visualise positivity. I don’t always do it, but it helps,” he explained. “When you get negative thoughts, you go backwards. The biggest thing for me is, if someone’s going to beat you, make them earn it. Don’t hand it to them.”

It’s a mantra that has served him well during this campaign. Having already accounted for two Premier League regulars, Menzies insists the key is belief — something he’s still developing. “I never thought I’d get this far,” he admitted. “I was honestly thinking about going home, chilling with my dad and maybe playing some bad golf. Maybe I need to start believing in myself a bit more.”

In a rare moment of visible frustration, Menzies revealed that his outpouring of emotion on stage came partly from pent-up annoyance over recent social media criticism.

“I got a lot of grief recently — The Sun quoted me out of context after a joke I made about Rangers,” he said. “They made it sound like I said Rangers ruined my career, which I never said. It was tongue-in-cheek, and if people watched the video, they’d see I was just having a laugh. But that stuff does get to you.”

It’s a side of professional sport often overlooked — the way online noise can shape an athlete’s self-image. For someone as unfiltered as Menzies, who wears his heart on his sleeve, it’s particularly tough.

Five months ago, Menzies took the plunge and gave up his day job to pursue darts full-time. The shift, he says, has been mentally demanding but worth it. “All I’ve ever wanted was to be good at darts and be a professional,” he said. “Before, if I lost, it didn’t matter — I had work to go back to. Now it’s my job, and that’s pressure. But this is my dream.

“I’m lucky to be doing it, because darts is massive now. The young players are unreal — they’re hitting averages I could only dream of at that age. I’m 36, I don’t know how long I’ve got in this game, but I’m giving it everything.”

That honesty extends beyond the stage. He even admitted he had planned to go home before the quarter-finals. “I was supposed to pay the guy who’s doing my driveway,” he laughed. “So sorry, Blackie — you’ll get it next week! I’ll just chill now, play a bit on the gaming laptop, watch some Peaky Blinders, and enjoy being here.”

Whether he admits it or not, Menzies is carving out a legitimate place among the sport’s top-tier performers. Having seen off Dobey and Cross in successive rounds, he’ll next face Humphries — the reigning world number one and Premier League winner.

The odds, inevitably, will be against him. But Menzies, the unpredictable force who thrives on instinct, seems to prefer it that way. “I’ve already done better than I thought,” he said. “I’ve punched above my weight — and I’m happy with that.”

It’s classic Cameron Menzies: self-deprecating, authentic, and quietly dangerous. The smile might hide the nerves, but make no mistake — the Scot is no longer just a crowd favourite. He’s a serious threat on the big stage.