Menzies stuns Humphries, reaches World Matchplay

Cameron Menzies stunned world No.2 Luke Humphries 10-7 at the World Matchplay in Blackpool, marking a major first-round upset. The Scot, known for his emotions on stage, surged into an 8-3 lead and capped the win with a sensational 170 checkout, described by observers as one of the biggest wins of his career. Humphries struggled with finishing, missing numerous doubles as Menzies capitalized on finishing opportunities, while both players posted high averages and notable finishing sequences. The victory pits Menzies against Ross Smith in the second round, with reports noting both players averaged over 100 and doubled well in a high-quality contest. Several outlets highlighted Menzies’ Winter Gardens momentum and his status as one of the tournament’s standout stories, while also noting Humphries had shown form with a recent US Darts Masters success before this shock loss. Reactionsincluded the post-match sentiment of “no one gave me hope” from Menzies and Sky Sports’ framing of the moment as a career-defining performance for him.