sportskeeda
CAMERON MENZIES showed raw emotion as he left Ally Pally, visibly upset and gasping for breath.
The Scottish plumber had tears streaming down his face during the final two legs as he succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against American Leonard Gates, who received notable support from the audience, in the opening round of the PDC World Darts Championship.
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Menzies, whose partner is Fallon ‘Queen of the Palace’ Sherrock, is known for being highly emotional and openly expressing his feelings on stage.
Shortly after his defeat, Menzies posted a photo of his ill father, Ricky, in a hospital bed with the caption: “This is everything.”
He was evidently battling with his mental and emotional state as his performance declined and Gates edged closer to victory.
The Glaswegian struggled, missing 27 of his 32 double attempts, and as his game unraveled in front of a crowd of 3,300, the situation became increasingly challenging for him.
It was a heart-wrenching scene, prompting concerns that he might not finish the match and could withdraw.
Some spectators exhibited unsportsmanlike behavior, playfully cheering Menzies’ throws despite his struggles.
Three-time Lakeside world darts champion Glen Durrant remarked: “On the floor, Cammy has excelled. He shines in that environment, yet it seems different on stage. It simply wasn’t working for him. He is incredibly passionate.
“Given his preparation, he needs to figure out why his stage performance differs from his practice success. He’s exceptionally talented.
“By the end, it was somewhat alarming; I was uncertain if he was overwhelmed or under immense pressure. The conclusion was quite surreal.
Fallon Sherrock’s boyfriend Cameron Menzies fell to the floor after a win, having left the tournament ‘in a huff’ just days before.
“This is quite disappointing. He has a support system around him, but ultimately, he must resolve this on his own. He shouldn’t dwell in self-pity. He is a fantastic darts player and needs to find a way through.
“The exhilaration of performing on that stage can be immense, yet a 16 percent success rate on doubles was his undoing.”
At 54 years old, Gates celebrated enthusiastically after hitting the final dart – his fifth match dart – and will face Nathan Aspinall in the second round on Wednesday night.
Gates, a truck driver from Texas, said: “I recognized Cammy. I want every competitor to perform at their best against me to accurately gauge my own abilities.
“I encouraged him to channel that energy and view it as a formative experience rather than a setback. Focus on continuous improvement, keep playing darts, and demonstrate to the PDC what we are capable of achieving.
“Nathan is a skilled player, and I’ll need to elevate my game beyond what I displayed here. I’m advancing to the next round. Merry Christmas. This is truly incredible!”
Gates added: “I urged him to concentrate on the game and not allow the crowd’s negativity to influence him.
“It’s vital to shut out distractions and maintain focus. I returned to the basics: throw your darts and keep track of the scores.
“I hope my words provided support, both in his game and personally. He has to identify what he needs, whether additional support is required. I hope my advice boosted his confidence.”
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