Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 4:29 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, December 16, 2025, 4:30 p.m.
The World Darts Championship is one of the traditional Christmas events and generally the atmosphere is pleasant and calm.
The biggest controversy so far of the current championship was generated by the Scot Cameron Menzies (35). He was eliminated in the first round by Charlie Manby, a 20-year-old player ranked more than 100 places lower in the ranking. Following the elimination, the athlete reacted nervously and broke a table, leaving the stage with a bloody hand.
PHOTO. Cameron Menzies, incident at the World Darts Championship
The World Darts Championship takes place from January 15, 2025 to January 3, 2026. Immediately after the first round defeat against young Englishman Charlie Manby (19), Menzies gave free rein to all his emotions.
In a fit of rage, the Scot smashed the small table that darts players use to place their darts and drinks on. He repeatedly punched the table angrily and pretended to throw a water bottle into the audience, for which he was booed by the audience. Frustrated, Menzies showed the first signs of negative emotions early in the match. Following the incident, the referee then gave him a stern warning and kicked him off the stage, according to Bild.
After shaking hands with the opponent, he left the stage with a bloody hand.
Cameron Menzies and Charlie Manby at the end of the Darts match / photo: The Sun
After the match, Menzies apologized for his behaviour
After the match, Cameron Menzies apologized for his behaviour. He explained that he is going through a difficult period, following the death of his uncle. If he had won, the next match would have been played on the day of his funeral.
“I'm sorry I reacted the way I did. It's not an excuse, but I've had a lot on my mind lately and it was probably too much for me. My uncle Gary passed away recently. We saw each other four days before he died and his look showed me how much he loved me.
If I had won the match, my second duel would have been on the day of his funeral, and that kept me awake. I don't want people to perceive me that way. Yes, sometimes I'm emotional, but not like this, that wasn't right,” Cameron Menzies said, according to the source cited earlier.
What is the World Darts Championship?
The PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) World Darts Championship is an annual world darts competition. Founded in 1994, the championship runs from December to January and has been held at London's Alexandra Palace since 2008.
The hall has a capacity of 18,000 seats, being full at most matches. This is also where the unpleasant event during the Darts match took place.
Alexandra Palace / photo: Sky Sports
