Cameron Menzies attributes emotional Grand Slam win to the crowd
14/11/2024 By Aaron Nijjar
Cameron Menzies produced the biggest win of his darting career to progress through to the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals.
The Scotsman defeated one of the all-time greats, James Wade, in a last-leg decider and will earn a minimum of £25,000, the biggest payday of his career.
Menzies’ form as of late has seen him accumulate his first PDC title within the last month, and he now finds himself in his first PDC TV quarter-final.
The now-number 38 fell to his knees after hitting the winning double. He attributed his hard-fought victory to the crowd, who eased his nerves throughout the 19 legs despite receiving consistent chants of “Scotland get battered, everywhere they go”.
“I don’t know how to explain that,” Menzies told Sky Sports after his win.
“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 get the whole ‘Scotland get battered’. I love you guys, I expect that. I don’t know what happened there but I’ve never hoped for a dart more in my life.
“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.
“I might have to phone in sick tomorrow!”
Menzies still works as a part-time plumber alongside his darting commitments, revealing that after his final Group Stage match, he returned to work despite still being in the tournament.
“I’ve just signed a new contract with them.
“I’ve changed my hours so I’m working three days a week now instead of five days which is a lot better for me.
“I asked the office and they were happy to do it – I just had to go to HR.
“They’ve been massively helpful with me.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
