Cameron Menzies very nearly broke down in tears after beating James Wade in dramatic fashion at the Grand Slam of Darts. The 35-year-old, who works as a plumber, won the decisive leg to secure a 10-9 victory after missing multiple match darts.
The lead changed hands many times, with the match eventually going to a last-leg decider with the scores locked at 9-9. Menzies needed to hit double 20 to claim the spoils and book his place in the quarter-finals but missed with his first two attempts.
It left Wade needing to check out 98 for the victory but he missed two throws at the triple 20 before hitting a single 18, giving Menzies another opportunity to win the match
He obliged at the next time of asking, nailing his first dart at tops before collapsing to the floor in disbelief. He leapt to his feet and threw his arms around in delight while screaming with joy before putting his hands over his face.
Menzies, who is dating fellow darts player Fallon Sherrock, then exchanged a sporting handshake with Wade before telling Sky Sports that he was planning on taking the day off from his plumbing job to celebrate.
He said: “I don’t know how to explain that. I won the first five legs. I fumbled a bit. I don’t know what happened. I’ve never hoped for a dart so much in my life. That wasn’t confidence, I was just praying to things I didn’t know existed. It was just hope.
“I am ecstatic. I don’t deal with this very well. Getting involved with the crowd is my mentality thing. I’m a nervous wreck up here. My anxiety goes through the roof. The crowd just calms me. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here.
I’m lucky, I don’t think I’ve played well yet. I think I’m carrying a bit of luck for the first time in my life. Someone is looking over me at the moment. Now I’m in the last eight. I might have to phone in sick tomorrow!”
Menzies recently explained that he did not want to give up plumbing and pursue a full-time darts career because he felt that working a regular job kept his ‘sanity’ in check.
Speaking on the Love The Darts podcast by Sky Sports, he said: “I go to darts not thinking about having to make money for bills and stuff. I have worked since I was 16 so when the darts is quiet, I don’t like sitting about, I have got to do stuff.
“I just remember in COVID times and you couldn’t get a job. It wasn’t the greatest of times for a lot of people. Working just keeps my sanity, basically.
