MANBY QUESTIONS HURRELL REACTION AFTER UK OPEN ROW
07/05/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
CHARLIE MANBY questioned whether James Hurrell would have complained about celebrations from bigger-name rivals after their UK Open row.
The Huddersfield thrower clashed with Hurrell after sealing a 6-4 third-round victory on the outer boards in Minehead back in March.
The pair squared-up following the match and exchanged heated words before officials stepped in to separate them.
Fans packed tightly around the stage also got involved as boos and jeers rang around the noisy arena.
Manby revealed the flashpoint came after he roared in delight at a crucial break of throw to move 2-1 ahead.
He told talkSPORT: “Well, when I went 2-1 up and broke throw I celebrated. I think it was deserved and I needed to get that emotion out of me.
“Then I was ready to throw and he said to me, ‘Oh, we’re giving it the big one, are we?’
“So then I stepped back, had a drink of water and then for the rest of the game I hardly celebrated.
“I kept it inside me. Then after the game he said, ‘Oh, we’re meant to be mates, what’s with the big one?’
“It’s a major competition and you have no friends on the oche. So you are allowed to and you are on the stage.
“It’s a key leg for me as well and if I feel something bubbling up inside me that I think I need to do, I will do it.
“You want to win and that is my way of doing it and showing emotion.
“I just don’t know if it would have been the same if he were playing Gezzy [Price] or Michael van Gerwen.
“I don’t know if he would have said out or not.”
Champagne Charlie also revealed which player he would actually consider getting tattooed on him if he had to choose.
He added: “I’d have to say someone like Chris Dobey. He’s just a nice guy and no one is going to bat an eyelid if you have a Chris Dobey tattoo.
“If you have a Littler one everyone is going to think you are a Littler fan and going with the fame.
“You started watching darts two years ago and that is it.
“If you have a Dobey one everyone will think he is a nice guy, you can have a Dobey tattoo.
“He’s just a genuinely nice guy and I think people will respect that you have a tattoo of him for some reason.”
The world No.96 impressed on the biggest stage, reaching the fourth round of the World Championship where he was beaten by Ally Pally finalist Gian van Veen back in December.
Manby continued his progress with quarter-final runs at Players Championship events Seven and Eight.
He currently holds the Dev Tour record for the highest single-match average, hitting a staggering 130.70 in February 2025 against Patrick Williams.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
