“There’s no friends on the oche” – Charlie Manby refuses to apologise after James Hurrell clash at UK Open

A fiery moment on the outer boards at the UK Open on Friday afternoon quickly became one of the talking points of the tournament, as Charlie Manby found himself involved in a heated exchange with fellow Englishman James Hurrell.

The confrontation came after Manby edged past Hurrell 6-4 during the early stages of the tournament in Minehead. What followed at the end of the match saw the pair exchange words near the board before being separated, with Manby celebrating loudly with the crowd afterwards.

Speaking afterwards in conversation with ITV4, the young Englishman made it clear he had no intention of apologising for the way he celebrated during the match.

Manby admitted the reaction likely stemmed from his vocal celebrations during the contest, particularly with the crowd on the outer boards heavily involved in the atmosphere. “I just don’t think he was happy with me giving it the big one,” Manby said.

Despite the tension on stage, Manby insisted the relationship between the pair away from competition remains friendly. “I am mates with James, I sit with him at ProTours, I got on really well with him, I just don’t think he liked me giving it the big one when there’s a lot riding on it.”

Matches on the outer boards at the UK Open often produce a uniquely intense atmosphere, with fans positioned extremely close to the action and celebrations frequently directed towards the crowd. In this case, that environment appeared to play a role in the emotions boiling over at the end of the match.

While Manby acknowledged the two players get along away from the board, he was equally clear that friendship plays no role once a match begins. "There’s no friends on the oche,” he explained.“Yes, you can sit with whoever you want, but there’s no friends on the oche at all.”

The comment reflects the competitive mentality required at the top level of professional darts, where even close relationships between players are often set aside once the match begins. For Manby, that mindset also extends to the way he expresses himself during matches.

The Englishman was unapologetic about his celebrations, insisting that interacting with the crowd is part of the sport, particularly at a tournament like the UK Open. “If I want to give it the big one, I’ll give it the big one, there’s no restrictions to that – especially here.”

The unique format of the UK Open, often described as the ‘FA Cup of darts’, means matches take place across multiple boards around the arena, creating a lively and unpredictable environment. Manby believes that energy should be embraced rather than restrained.“We’ve got loads of people out there giving it the big one as well. My fans, his fans, we were just as good as each other, so I don’t see any problem with it.”

Manby’s run in Minehead would later come to an end in the fourth round on Friday evening, where he was beaten 10-6 by Ryan Joyce. Even so, the earlier clash with Hurrell ensured the young Englishman remained one of the most talked-about figures from the opening day of action at the UK Open.