"She'll do it for me, I know it's maybe stereotypical as a man": The secret to Cameron Menzies shock Humphries win? Darting breaks and his girlfriend washing his clothes
PDCTuesday, 21 July 2026 at 09:37
Luke Humphries was downed on Monday evening by an incredible Cameron Menzies at the World Matchplay who produced a 170 checkout to win 10-7 and set up a tie with Ross Smith next up in the second round.
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Menzies said that while he had belief that he might be able to cause an upset, it isn't something he thought would happen in a million years.
He spoke to the media including DartsNews.com afterwards and said that he only thought he could produce what he did if he played out of his skin. "I don't know how to explain that. I did believe in my heart I could maybe cause an upset, but I'd have to play out of my skin," he said to the media including DartsNews.com.
"I wouldn't say I played out of my skin, but I played really well. I did say before the game started, and every year, to beat Luke I need to take every chance that he gives me, and he gave me a lot of chances. I took a lot out.
"It's not like Luke to give a lot of chances away, but obviously I'm going to take them. A lot went in and I would admit that I stole a few legs to win, but it's made tonight the best moment of my career. It was up there with playing with Gary at the World Cup."
"I have just beaten one of the best players in the world in a game that no one gave me hope in. I knew myself in my heart that if I played my A-game, A-plus game, when I'm firing on all cylinders, I've got a chance.
"I wasn't great there. I think I played really well, but he gave me a lot of sniffs and I took a lot out, and that was the difference. On paper, that's my biggest win on TV without a doubt. I have just beaten a great player on TV and when he started firing back, I just held the line.
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"He was a gentleman in defeat a great guy. He is an advocate for darts, to be honest. To me, that's my biggest result on TV and he was brilliant about it. I have nothing but love and respect for him."
He was asked if it was up there in his best wins and said that he didn't even think he was going to qualify for this tournament no mind win against Humphries.
No one gave me hope said Cameron Menzies.
"It's up there because I didn't think I was going to qualify for this. I've had a good wee couple of weeks here, but the start of the year was terrible.
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"It was just really bad. I have a 92 average for the year, but that's only gone up because of the last couple of months. I had a really poor start to the year. I went through a lot. Emotions won't fall, but I'm in a better place mentally and physically. I'm enjoying darts again."
But he won't get too ahead of himself as he said that in theory he could lose next game anyway when he faces Ross Smith quite easily. "The thing is, if you watch the PDC, if you watch the ProTours, I have Ross next. I know Ross is a great player. His game against Kevin Doets was a great game.
"But if you look at the ProTours, I've won three ProTours. We all can win these games. Usually on TV though, usually the top seeds stand up and be counted, but I've nothing to lose. I was expected to lose this game, so every game is a bonus now."
Emotions part of Menzies make-up
But Menzies went on to say that in reality he wasn't sure how to feel and that he felt nervous amid the adrenaline and that he won't ever change who he is as a darts player in terms of his emotion despite him toning down after the World Championship incident.
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"I wish I could explain to you because sometimes I'm fine, I keep the emotion down and sometimes I get caught in the moment. Nothing changes in me personally, just adrenaline.
"Maybe because I was in front, I was more nervous. If I was behind and I took a big finish out or whatever, I wouldn't show more emotion.
"I was really nervous, but in a good way. I don't like that side of me, but it is who I am.
"Unfortunately, I'd like to change that. I'd like to be more like your laid-back person, but if I'd done that, I wouldn't be at the point where I am. I like to show a bit of emotion, but I like to try and keep it intact as well because sometimes I do go on and on to you.
Menzies produced again.
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"But there's never any malice in it. That performance there, that's what I want to be like all the time."
After the World Darts Championship incident, Menzies underwent therapy and said that being in a good place with a girlfriend that cares too is very much the tonic he needs as well as the big part which is taking a break occasionally to take scope.
"I've been doing my therapy a fair bit. I haven't done it recently, but I'm going to reach out to Chris pretty soon. It's something that I would never do. I talked about what happened and I tell you what, it's helped me massively because I'm not the best of flyers, I'm not the best of this and that, so I do have some anxiety and stuff.
"Things like that have helped massively. I feel better. I'm getting older now. I keep thinking I'm 26, but I'm not anymore. I'm in a good place in life at the moment and that's why I was really poor at the start of the year. I had a break for three weeks, went on holiday and then the first thing I remember was going on the Tour. I'm starting to get older and I've been sitting with Gary long enough to take holidays.
"He takes a lot more than me. It's just little things. You've got to realise that's your job, but you need to take some wee time if that makes sense. I've been doing it more often and it's helped."
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Being asked if he ever expected to do this after his World Championship incident, it was very much joking that he questioned if the interviewer was drunk and that again taking time off before the ProTour reset himself and that the big names doing it is the way in reality.
"You're drunk. The thing is though, it's a bit of a surprise for me as well. But two weeks ago when I won that ProTour, I never thought I'd ever do that again because at the start of the year I was poor and just wasn't in a good place mentally.
"I was always there, I was trying, but I just wasn't pulling it out. I believe in the last seven ProTours I won two games.
"I had a break from darts and then finally had a holiday—a holiday with no darts. I went on holiday and the darts were left at home and it was the best thing for me. It's something I don't usually do because I'm usually always up at 100.
"The first thing I did was win a ProTour. It was a break from life, if that makes sense. Something that I will do more often now.
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"It doesn't have to be a week or two weeks or whatever, it's just going away for a couple of days.
"I can see why your top players do it, obviously in the Premier League and stuff. Darts is very busy. It is hard work, especially when things are not going your way.
"Sometimes the best thing you can do is just step away. I'm missing my girlfriend's brother's wedding because I'm trying to do both. I want to play darts all the time, but I need to realise my health—not my health, just mentally. It's good to just chill."
"It's maybe stereotypical as a man": Menzies on appreciating help from girlfriend
But while life is good on the oche, he also said that having a girlfriend who helps also alleviates the pressure, and while it might be stereotypical as a man, she gets it and will help him when he needs.
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"Not just the darts, just in life in general. She stays in Glasgow, I stay in Ayrshire. Sometimes when you travel home from Leicester, it's like five and a half hours on the train, she picks me up and we go back to hers.
"I know it's so stupid, but she'll wash my clothes or she'll order food. It's just simple things like that. These things are hard when you travel a lot and you go home and everything's done for you sometimes. I do iron her clothes sometimes, but I burnt the last one so she doesn't let me very often.
"She's been a massive help. Even if she drives me somewhere to darts and stuff, little things like that mean a lot because we travel a lot. We travel back from the airport, she picks me up and then I get the case and I'm like, I can't be bothered with clothes.
"She'll do it for me. I know it's maybe stereotypical as a man, but those things mean a lot for me. So what happens then? I'll buy her a packet of ready salted crisps."
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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