CAMMY OPENS UP ON NERVES AND ANXIETY AT OCHE

By Aaron Nijjar  

CAMERON MENZIES has admitted he was overwhelmed by nerves during his tense 6-5 victory over Mike De Decker in the third round of the European Darts Trophy. 

The match was a dramatic affair, with both players missing multiple match darts before Menzies eventually sealed the win. 

At one point, Menzies even dropped to the floor after hitting the wrong double with match darts due to a miscount.  

Menzies revealed to Tungsten Tales how the pressure of the moment affected him. 

He said: “I had only made the last eight of a Euro Tour once before as a Challenge Tour player.  

“So when the game went to 5-5, the nerves just kicked in. My leg was shaking, and I’ve not had nerves like that before. 

“I felt like I was 18 again. My hand was shaking, and my heart was racing.” 

World No. 39 Menzies addressed a miscount in the final leg, which led to him receiving unnecessary abuse on social media. 

He added: “You know how nervous I was when I miscounted. Usually, that is not something I do.  

“I made a bit of a fool of myself. I’m getting dog’s abuse, with people saying it was tactics. 

“I thought I had won. I just remember hearing that noise, then my heart sank. 

“But because I had made that mistake, I wanted Mike to hit it. I wanted to be put out of my misery.” 

‘Cammy’ revealed that he was relieved when Ryan Joyce ended his tournament in the quarter-finals. 

He said: “With social media, I didn’t want to see it because it’s usually just nasty.  

“I saw it, and in the end, I was happy Ryan Joyce played well because I just wanted to go to my hotel. I was done.” 

Former Players Championship winner Menzies also spoke candidly about his struggles with anxiety, revealing that it has affected him on and off the oche. 

He admitted: “I struggle with anxiety. That’s why when you watch me talk, I look away all the time—I don’t like giving eye contact.  

“There are things people have asked me to get checked. I’m hoping to get it sorted because I am a nervous wreck.” 

The Glasgow thrower had a brilliant 2024 campaign where he picked up his first ProTour title and reached the quarter-final of the Grand Slam.  

Menzies has started this year in fine form reaching the final of the Players Championship Four and semi-final yesterday (Monday) at Event Nine.  

And the 35-year-old is striving to achieve more success at the oche. 

He said: “My target is to be a top 32 player. But my aim is always to keep my tour card because I know how hard it is to win it.  

“Going on from last year I would be more than happy if I could continue that because it was a pretty good campaign.” 

Image by Taylor Lanning.