MENZIES FIXES TAPS TO TOPS!
16/12/2023 By Phil Lanning
CAMERON MENZIES went from fixing the taps to hitting tops to win his opening Paddy Power World Championship clash.
The madcap Muirkirk ace beat Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 3-0 on the first night of the event at the Ally Pally.
He will now play World No.11 Dave Chisnall and said: “I will be honest with you, I never thought this would happen. I was really panicky today.
“I was working but it kind of chilled me out, it made me realise that darts is a hobby and a very lucky one, too. I was so nervous, I knew that game meant a lot. What happens now is a bonus but winning that game meant the world to me.
“Going to work chilled me out. It made me realise that it is not the be-all, end-all. I am a worker. I would like to be in a situation where I can give up my job and do this full-time, but I have a long way to go.
“Fortunately I don’t work weekends. Only Monday to Friday. My company have been very good to me. They give me a lot of time off.
“It’s Christmas and New Year, we have skeleton staff and unfortunately this busy time falls at the same time as the Worlds. They have given me everything.
“I cannot complain. I wouldn’t be here without them. I appreciate it. I would have liked the day off but hobby that I am not bad at. I want to give Chizzy a kicking now.”
MICHAEL SMITH came back from the brink to save his World Championship skin.
The defending champ’s reign at the Ally Pally was on the line as he survived a scare to beat Kevin Doets 3-2.
Smith came back from 2-1 down and looking shaky to find form in the latter stages to crucially hang onto his reign.
After receiving a rapturous welcome by the fans on his walk-on, Smith looked a shadow of his normal power-scoring self.
He took the opening set but in less than convincing style and Doets soon levelled up the match.
The third set then went to a deciding leg as the tension really cranked up on Bully Boy. But Doets took out double 16 to go 2-1 up.
Smith came roaring back to take the next set and leave the match all-square. He then delivered a wonderful 142 to break throw but then missed five match darts to wrap it up.
Finally he took out 67 to avoid the upset and keep his title defending dream alive.
Smith said: “Being 2-1 down there was a 142 in there somewhere. Going through my mind was that I can’t be bothered going to a last leg decider.
“When he took the set he gave it the point. I remember last year Martin Schindler did that as well. I thought now you’ve got to ruin him.
“It was the same nerves when I drove up here for the last 13 years. I was quite happy with that. No nerves, no pressure, have a good Christmas now. I can go home, practice with Aspinall with a week and come back.”
Images by Taylor Lanning.
