Scottish darts player Cameron Menzies has issued a public apology after an emotional outburst during his first-round defeat at the PDC World Championship, where he angrily punched a drinks table following a dramatic loss to Charlie Manby at Alexandra Palace.

Menzies, the tournament’s 26th seed, was beaten 3–2 in sets by the highly rated 20-year-old English debutant after letting slip leads of 1–0 and 2–1. Moments after Manby converted his seventh match dart to seal victory, Menzies struck the underside of the table three times in frustration.

As he left the stage, the 36-year-old raised his hand in apology to the crowd. He was later photographed with blood visible on his right hand, having suffered a cut during the incident.

Menzies Issues Apology and Explains Personal Struggles

In a statement released shortly after the match, Menzies expressed regret for his actions and acknowledged that his behaviour was unacceptable.

“First of all, I would like to apologise for what happened,” he said. “I am sorry that I reacted in the manner that I did. That was the wrong thing to do.”

While stressing that his actions were not justified, Menzies explained that he has been dealing with significant personal pressures in recent weeks, including the recent death of his uncle Gary, who played an important role in his life.

“It has not been an easy time for me with my uncle passing away recently,” Menzies said. “I saw him four days before he died, and that moment has stayed with me.”

Menzies also revealed that, had he progressed to the next round, his second-round match would have fallen on the day of his uncle’s funeral—an emotional burden that weighed heavily on him during the contest.

“Let me be clear, that’s no excuse,” he added. “I don’t want what happened to take anything away from Charlie. He played well and deserved the win.”

PDC Response and Player Welfare

Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) chief executive Matt Porter confirmed that the incident would be reviewed by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA), as is standard procedure for cases involving aggressive or disruptive conduct.

“I spoke with Cameron and his management before he left the venue,” Porter said. “He understands that support is available through the PDC and the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA). Our main concern is his health and wellbeing.”

Under DRA regulations, players can face sanctions for inappropriate behaviour on stage, though any disciplinary outcome will follow a formal review.

A Difficult Pattern at the World Championship

This marks the second consecutive year Menzies has exited the World Championship in the opening round. In 2025, he was visibly distressed during and after his defeat to Leonard Gates, later revealing that his father had been seriously ill in hospital at the time.

The repeated emotional scenes have prompted renewed discussion around mental health pressures in professional darts, particularly on the sport’s biggest stage.

Former World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Mardle commented on Sky Sports that while frustration is understandable, players must remain in control.

“The frustration boiled over, but you’ve got to control that,” Mardle said. “He let himself down, but hopefully the PDPA are there to support him and help him move forward.”

Other Results: Wright and Clayton Progress

Elsewhere on Monday at Alexandra Palace, two-time world champion Peter Wright advanced comfortably to round two with a straight-sets victory over Noa-Lynn van Leuven. Despite admitting he was not at his best, Wright produced a crucial 152 checkout and showed enough composure to close out the match.

Welsh fifth seed Jonny Clayton also progressed with a 3–1 win over debutant Adam Lipscombe, while Dirk van Duijvenbode edged past Belgium’s Andy Baetens in a deciding set.

Players including Brendan Dolan, Mensur Suljovic, Max Hopp, and Connor Scutt also booked their places in round two, as attention now turns to Tuesday’s schedule featuring Chris Dobey and former world champion Gerwyn Price.

Focus Shifts Forward

While Menzies’ tournament has ended in disappointment, his apology and openness about personal hardship have drawn widespread sympathy. As the PDC World Championship continues, the incident has once again highlighted the intense emotional and psychological demands faced by players performing on darts’ biggest stage.