Cameron Menzies has revealed he has lost feeling in parts of his fingers and required surgery after punching a table during his World Championship defeat to Charlie Manby, admitting "I've made a massive mistake" and calling himself "lucky" to still be playing darts. The outburst left Menzies needing six to seven weeks without throwing a dart and facing both physical rehabilitation and deep mental scars. On Friday at the Poland Darts Open, he found a moment of relief with a 6–4 victory over Ritchie Edhouse, firing nine 180s and averaging 95 in what he described as arguably his best European Tour performance to date.
Reflecting on the incident, Menzies was brutally honest: "I've been struggling this year, I've been struggling massively. I wish I knew what happened at the Worlds and stuff. I've done a lot of damage to myself. Basically, I've got no feeling in parts of my fingers anymore because of the damage I've done, so I'm struggling massively." The Scot underwent surgery and extensive hand treatment, stating: "Over six weeks. I had to go through surgery. I've still had to go through hand treatment and trauma. I made a massive mistake in my life. You can see by the scar, I made a massive mistake and I have to live with that. I was lucky it's not as bad as it could have been. I'm not proud of it, but I'm lucky I can still play."
Menzies detailed the severity of the injury: "They operated on me and said it was severed. I had to go through a hand specialist. No words can explain what I felt at that time, waking up with a breathing tube and stuff, for a game of darts. I was stupid. I have to deal with that." Although he avoided permanent nerve or tendon damage—"they said I was lucky that I hadn't severed any nerves or tendons. I've just battered and bruised them"—the physical effects remain: "At the moment, I've got no feeling on one side of my finger, but I hold the dart on the other side, so I'm kind of lucky that way. They said it will come back." The regret lingers: "I have to live with the rumination of being a table puncher. It's not a proud moment in my life. We all make mistakes. Unfortunately, I made a big mistake and I have to accept it."
Given the toll, Menzies admitted he almost didn't compete in Poland: "I'll be honest, I was so close to pulling out this weekend because I'm just not enjoying it at the moment." Instead, he delivered a standout performance, noting: "Mate, I've hardly averaged over 75 this year. I've been struggling. I was nervous but good up there. When I was going for a double, it was more hope than happiness. But as soon as that first double 20 went in, I was like, 'I'm having one here.' It's so weird how darts does that. Arguably, average wise, that's the best I've ever played on the Euro Tour. I've still got a long way to go, but it's fairly good to play half decent again." The victory, just his second match win of the season, carried significant emotional weight: "To win a game meant a lot to me. It's been a hard struggle."
Menzies has reset his expectations: "If you'd asked me before the Worlds, I would have wanted to stay in the top 32. My aim now is just to get to the Worlds. I do feel like I'm struggling a bit with my hand, but it's not just my hand, it's more the mental side of it. When it's not working, I focus on my hand. I'm a human being. I've made a mistake. It's not easy." His first dart after the incident came at the Milton Keynes Players Championship: "It took me six or seven weeks to throw a dart. I don't know how this year is going to pan out. As I said, I made a mistake and I have to accept the consequences." To cope, he's sought help: "I'm doing hypnotherapy at the moment. I've got a soundtrack to listen to every night and I speak to him once a week. It speaks to your subconscious. I never believed in this, but the PDPA put me through eight sessions with this guy. He's worked with a few better players than me. I'm my own worst enemy. I get caught in my own head. It's not a nice place to be. I beat myself up. These guys are helping me try to be better. I'm doing my best to be better." The win over Edhouse has restored something crucial: "That today has given me a bit of love back again."
