Cameron Menzies produced a magnificent 170 checkout to stun Luke Humphries 10-7 in round one of the World Matchplay last night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Menzies – entering his second World Matchplay tournament – eliminated world number two Humphries with a magical display of finishing, picking up his first win on the Winter Gardens stage in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a frantic start with seven straight breaks of throw including a wonderful double-double 129 outshot from Menzies and an emphatic 167 reply from Humphries, the Scottish number two won five legs straight to lead 8-3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humphries dug deep and took four consecutive legs of his own, but Menzies maintained his composure, taking out 98 before conjuring a magical big fish finish to secure a historic victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo matter what I do in my life, I will take this to my grave,\u201d professed Menzies, who will now take on Ross Smith in the last 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo one gave me hope, I didn\u2019t give myself hope – I\u2019ve finally won a game at the Winter Gardens!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen it was at 7-3, I was just trying not to think of that finish line.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo beat someone as amazing as Humphries on this stage\u2026 that\u2019s my biggest win in the PDC.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith was forced to defy a fantastic fightback from debutant Kevin Doets to triumph 10-6 in a thrilling match, thereby picking up a third win on the Winter Gardens stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The former European Champion burst into a 5-0 lead which included a ten-dart leg and massive 160 outshot, although Doets rallied to reduce the arrears to 6-4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith took three legs straight to go one away from victory, and despite Doets taking out a skin-saving 161 checkout to threaten a remarkable comeback, the Englishman sealed victory with a 120 finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen Kevin came back fighting it was a bit nervy, but all credit to him,\u201d said Smith, who finished the match with a ton-plus average and 56% doubles success rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a really nice lad and what a player. He\u2019s just averaged 104 on his debut at the World Matchplay. I wish I could have done that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI started the game really well. I\u2019ve been working on my finishing and it\u2019s been paying off, so long may it continue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was sat up there [at the Winter Gardens] when I was 14 years old watching darts, so it\u2019s amazing to be here. It\u2019s an absolute privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doets\u2019 104.19 average was the highest-ever recorded in a debut match at the World Matchplay, despite the Dutchman bowing out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, Gerwyn Price produced a resilient comeback to see off Martin Schindler 11-9 and record his sixth consecutive round one win in Blackpool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the German number one leading 4-0 and then 6-2, Price battled back to lead 9-8, only for Schindler to deliver a clutch 121 checkout to take the match to a tie-break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, the former World Champion immediately broke throw to lead 10-9, before pinning a 100 checkout to squeeze through and condemn Schindler to a fifth consecutive defeat at the World Matchplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWithout the crowd, I would have lost today,\u201d confessed Price, who came back from 6-2 down to win nine of the last 12 legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was probably the worst I\u2019ve played all season. It was a tough one for me, I\u2019m low on confidence at the minute just because I haven\u2019t played a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s probably one of those game I should have lost, but I\u2019ve won and I\u2019m still in the tournament. I\u2019ll put some hours on the board tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll definitely be better the next round, I can\u2019t be any worse!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price will face Rob Cross in round two, after the former World Matchplay champion dispatched Danny Noppert 10-3 with relative ease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2017\/18 World Champion bulldozed into a 5-0 lead and maintained the Dutchman at an arm\u2019s length throughout, finishing the match with an average north of 97 and 53% strike rate on the doubles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Round two of the Betfred World Matchplay commences with a blockbuster session tonight, with reigning champion Luke Littler looking to continue his title defence against Nathan Aspinall, while Michael van Gerwen takes on fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jonny Clayton faces Gary Anderson in a fascinating tussle, while Premier League stars Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock collide in the final match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cameron Menzies produced a magnificent 170 checkout to stun Luke Humphries 10-7 in round one of the World<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15092,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[59],"class_list":["post-15090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-darts"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
RESULTS
Round One
<\/strong>Ross Smith 10-6 Kevin Doets
Gerwyn Price 11-9 Martin Schindler
Cameron Menzies 10-7 Luke Humphries
Rob Cross 10-3 Danny Noppert<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"