"I was doing my own thing, I couldn't tell you": Charlie Manby unsure about nature of Cameron Menzies outburst

Charlie Manby’s World Darts Championship debut at Alexandra Palace was meant to be a learning experience. Instead, it became a statement as he impressed against Cameron Menzies.

On one of the sport’s biggest stages, the 20‑year‑old delivered a performance packed with drama, composure and raw emotion to announce himself to the wider darts world while Menzies crumbled on the Ally Pally stage.

Trying to put his emotions into words afterwards, Manby admitted it was difficult to fully process what he had just experienced. “It’s a hard one,” he said post match. “I think it’s a bit overwhelming, but it felt absolutely amazing out there.”

For Manby, simply walking onto the World Championship stage was the fulfilment of a long‑held dream. Far from being overawed, he felt the contest itself lived up to everything he had imagined. "Yeah, definitely,” he reflected. “I think the game was at a great pace and a good standard, and I think everyone else enjoyed it as well. It’s good to have the crowd on your side when you debut too.”

That crowd played its part in a match filled with tension, momentum swings and a nerve‑shredding final leg. Asked what was going through his mind at the climax of the contest, Manby could only laugh. “I couldn’t tell you. I have no idea,” he said. “It’s just one of those things where it all hits you at once. It was a good feeling, but I couldn’t tell you what was going through my head – starting that leg, ending that leg, anything.”

Manby arrived at Alexandra Palace with expectations already attached to his name, following a standout year on the Development Tour where he produced a string of eye‑catching performances. Despite the external noise, he insisted he remained focused on his own game. “People can sort of say anything about me,” he explained. “I’ll just play my own game, no matter what they say.”

Even with millions watching around the world, Manby approached his debut with a refreshing sense of freedom. “I didn’t even realise, really,” he said. “People sort of overthink it, but I just went up there and forgot about who was watching on TV and everything. The people I brought with me helped me on, and the crowd did as well. I had no expectations – I was just going up there with a free shot.”

Known for playing on the edge and celebrating big moments, Manby suggested those emotions are driven by instinct rather than design. “If it’s a key moment in a game, adrenaline just takes over and you do what you do,” he said. “Simple as that.”

As the match wore on, Manby sensed opportunity against Cameron Menzies, backing himself to take control when it mattered most. “I back myself against anyone,” he said. “Whether it was composure or the crowd or anything like that, I just thought I did my bit and did it quite well.”

While the end of the match brought visible frustration from his opponent, Manby remained focused solely on his own performance. “I was doing my own thing,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you really. Simple as that.”

Perspective has been a recurring theme throughout Manby’s breakthrough year, and he was keen to stress that simply reaching Alexandra Palace was never taken for granted. “It’s year one of doing everything,” he explained. “I went to Q‑School in January for the first time. I’ve done Q‑School, Challenge Tour, Development Tour, been invited to ProTours, UK Open and World Masters qualifiers. It’s year one of doing everything, so this is just a great bonus for me to even be here, let alone to win on that stage.”

Victory on debut inevitably raises questions about how far a player can go, but Manby remains grounded. “Possibly,” he said of a deep run. “I played well there and got through a tight game, and Cammy played well as well. Next game could be completely different. I’m just taking it one game at a time.”

Preparation, he revealed, was deliberately low‑key. “I didn’t want to push it too much,” he said. “I just wanted to keep doing what I’ve done all year. I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself. It’s your debut, you’re nervous, but I set up quite well and just did what I normally do.”

Despite his age, Manby speaks with a calm assurance that reflects the support system around him. “From a young age I surrounded myself with the right people,” he said. “They pushed me the right way and I took advice off the right people. There might be a bit more expectation now, but anything can happen in darts.”

Manby is also acutely aware of the changing landscape of the sport, with youth talent emerging at an unprecedented rate. “The people younger than me who are playing at 14 or 15 are unbelievable,” he said. “You’ve seen Mitchell Lawrie get to the WDF men’s world final at that age. Darts is going to be a lot scarier in five or ten years – and I’ll be scared as well.”

Facing Menzies on debut felt like the right test. “When the draw came out, I thought he’s a top‑quality player,” Manby said. “But the pace was right for me. It was a great standard of game.”

Asked about the platforms that have helped shape his rise, Manby was full of praise for both the Development Tour and the MODUS Super Series. “What MODUS has done is unbelievable,” he said. “Not just for younger players, but for people who’ve been there, done it and dropped off. And the Development Tour is unreal now – it takes some doing to even reach a semi‑final.”

Away from the oche, Manby remains grounded in normal life. Still working as a bricklayer, he plans to return home and reset between matches. “If people ask me what I do, I don’t say I’m a darts player – I say I’m a bricklayer,” he said. “I still work when I can. I’ll just get back to normal and come back for the next round.”

Even the possibility of injury won’t change that mindset. “You’re better off just getting back to normal and doing what you normally do,” he said.

Replaying the final leg afterwards was almost impossible. “I couldn’t tell you what I scored,” he admitted. “It’s just rushing through you. I didn’t know how many darts I went out in. It was just a good feeling knowing I’d finally got over the line.”

In the stands, Manby had plenty of familiar faces urging him on. “My mum or my girlfriend were probably going crazier than me,” he smiled. “My dad’s cool as a cucumber. And my manager was there as well. They got me through that game more than I got myself through it.”

The post‑match embrace with Menzies passed in a blur, though Manby revealed his opponent had admitted it was not the draw he wanted. “He said if there was one person he didn’t want, it would probably be me, or maybe Beau Greaves,” Manby said.

Looking ahead, Manby hopes to dedicate more time to darts in the near future. “I’m hoping next year I can really commit to it,” he said. “Have a year doing what I love.”

Reflecting on his journey from playing in men’s clubs as a 12‑year‑old to winning on the Alexandra Palace stage, Manby was quick to credit those who guided him. “My dad’s mates like Peter Jacques and Brian Ellis pushed me the right way,” he said. “My family coming to watch me when I was young – they all helped guide me.”

He also acknowledged the difficulty opponents face when the crowd turns. “People handle it differently,” he said. “The way he handles it is up to him.”

High praise from Luke Littler ahead of the tournament further underlined Manby’s growing reputation. “I’ve grown up with Luke,” he said. “Played for England with him and through the JDC events. He’s a really good mate, and it feels good that he acknowledges me as a player.”

To keep his focus sharp, Manby deliberately stepped away from social media before the event.

“Before a big tournament like this, it’s not worth it,” he said. “You end up overthinking things. When I get my phone back, I probably won’t even look at it.”