"It was like he was there a million times before" – Wayne Mardle full of praise for giant-killing Cameron Menzies at the World Matchplay

PDC
Tuesday, 21 July 2026 at 14:30
Cameron Menzies (2)
Cameron Menzies produced one of the biggest shocks of the opening round of the World Matchplay on Monday evening. The Scot knocked out former world champion Luke Humphries 10-7, sealing his first ever win on the Winter Gardens stage. According to Sky Sports analyst Wayne Mardle, it was also the biggest victory of Menzies’ career.
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The Scot impressed with both his scoring and his finishing. After a chaotic opening in which the first seven legs all went against the throw, Menzies opened up a decisive lead midway through the match.
He surged 8-3 ahead, saw Humphries reel off four legs on the spin, but kept his composure. A 98 checkout moved him a big step closer, before he sealed it in style with a superb 170 checkout.
Mardle felt it wasn’t just the result that stood out, but especially how Menzies dealt with all the setbacks during the match. “It's his best ever win, and he mentioned that,” Mardle analysed afterwards on Sky Sports.

Not the emotions, but the mental strength

Menzies has long been known as an emotional player, something that is often discussed. According to Mardle, however, the Scot showed a level of mental resilience on Monday night that he hasn’t often displayed in the past.
"With Cameron Menzies, everyone mentions his emotions, but it's the way he had to win that game."
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The former top pro said the contest was anything but ideal in terms of game flow. “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."
Even so, Menzies held firm. “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."
Precisely at the moments when Humphries seemed to be clawing his way back in, Menzies remained notably calm, said Mardle. “Humphries had an amazing spell of four legs."
Where Menzies might have buckled under that pressure in the past, the opposite happened this time. “But then Menzies found a level again, and that's something we don't see enough."
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“It was like he was there a million times before”

For Mardle, the biggest takeaway from this win isn’t the neat finishes or the sensational 170 checkout that sealed it, but the belief he can draw from the performance. “What he should take most from tonight is how he handled the situation.”
The Sky Sports analyst was struck by the composure the Scot showed at the key moments. Mardle therefore believes this victory could be a key turning point in the Scot’s career. "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."
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