"When it’s cold, I get a lot of issues, it goes numb, I get pins and needles": Cameron Menzies describes lingering effects of hand injury after Barney brilliance

Cameron Menzies admitted he felt “numb in the best possible way” after producing one of the standout performances of the European Darts Grand Prix to defeat Raymond van Barneveld 6–3 in the opening round.

The 36-year-old produced a brilliant late flurry to confirm his progress, reeling off legs of 11, 13 and 13 darts to triumph with a 104.5 average and register a fifth straight victory over the Dutch legend at the European Darts Grand Prix.

The Scot delivered one of the highest averages of the tournament so far and revealed to DartsNews that everything seemed to click as he found himself in a rare “purple patch” on stage.

“I felt numb, and I mean that in the best possible way,” Menzies said to DartsNews. “I didn’t feel nervous, I didn’t feel excitement, I didn’t feel stress. It doesn’t happen very often. I’ve kind of called it a purple patch, we all call it that. I just felt good. I wish I could do that every game, but it doesn’t happen like that unfortunately.

“Barney played well, he gave me a few chances, but whenever he did I felt like I could match it or beat it. It was one of those games where I was just in the zone. I wish I could get in that zone all the time, I don’t know why I can’t, but I felt as close to perfect as I can be.”

Menzies was honest in admitting that even he does not fully understand how to recreate that level consistently, something he believes separates the very best players from the rest.

“I don’t know. If I could, I’d do it all the time, and I’m sure the top players do,” he added. “Some days you just feel good about yourself, mentally and physically, you just feel good.

“I don’t know how to explain it, because if you look at me, my emotions might suggest something different, but that game for me mentally and physically was perfect. I wish I could be in that place all the time, and I hope I can be, because if I do, I’m a decent player.”

Menzies also provided an update on the hand injury he suffered earlier this year at the PDC World Darts Championship, jokingly referring to it as “losing the fight with the table,” and explained how it still affects him in certain conditions including in Germany.

“After losing the fight with the table, I went for an operation the next day,” he said. “They checked the tendons and the nerves, so I was lucky not to sever any, but I did damage a few.

“When it’s cold, I get a lot of issues, it goes numb, I get pins and needles. When it’s warm, it’s not perfect, but where I hold the dart isn’t where the nerve damage is. The damage is on the inside of my finger and I hold the dart on the outside, so nine times out of ten it’s fine.

“When my hand’s cold, I get problems, it goes numb, it gets sore, pins and needles, so I keep a hand warmer in my bag. But we’re in Germany, it’s about 21 degrees, so I’m fine.”

Looking ahead, Menzies is under no illusions about the challenge he faces against close friend Ross Smith, but is relishing the opportunity to push on in front of big crowds on the European Tour.

“If I could play like that it’d be a different story, but darts isn’t always like that, is it?” he said. “We all can play good darts and bad darts, and I think my season shows how up and down it can be.

“I love Ross Smith, we go back 20 years. I’d love to beat him and get to Sunday, because that’s where everyone wants to be in these European Tour events. They’re tough to get to with all the travelling, but then you see 3,000 people out there. From playing pub leagues when I was younger to that, it’s what I dreamed of, so I can’t moan.

“It’s a big game tomorrow against Ross. I love the guy, he’s the best, so we’ll see what happens. But today was important because I need the ranking points, so I’m glad with how I played.

“I do feel sorry for Barney, I don’t think I’ve ever played badly against him. I think I’ve played really well every time, so I’m probably not on his Christmas card list this year.”