Emotional scenes as darts star Cameron Menzies sheds tears on stage during shock defeat to world No.130

Cameron Menzies was in tears throughout the closing levels of his shock World Championship defeat to Leonard Gates.

The Scot, ranked thirty ninth within the PDC’s order of benefit, was crushed 3-1 by an American opponent ranked a hundred and thirtieth on the earth of their first spherical encounter at Alexandra Palace on Monday evening.

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Texan Gates, who was the group favorite on the evening, displayed loads of showmanship earlier than a dart had even been thrown as he whipped out a full array of dance strikes throughout his walk-on.

As for Glaswegian Menzies, he shared a heartwarming kiss along with his companion and fellow darts star, Fallon Sherrock, on his strategy to the oche.

Gates’ antics evidently struck a chord with the group contained in the Ally Pally, as chants of ‘USA’ echoed all through the venue over the course of the match.

In addition they taunted Menzies with anti-Scotland chants and jeered him every time he missed alternatives to win a leg or did not land a treble.

Gates rode the wave of momentum generated by the group in a sensational first set through which he recorded checkouts of 138, 120 and 85 with a bullseye end.

It appeared just like the American would race out to a 2-0 lead because the second set was poised at two legs apiece.

Nonetheless, Menzies recovered to degree the competition with a forty five checkout.

For Menzies, the tide – and the group – quickly turned in opposition to him as his Ally Pally dream rapidly turned to a nightmare.

Gates rattled off three-straight legs to take a 2-1 lead and transfer to 1 set away from victory.

Menzies confirmed loads of coronary heart to decelerate Gates’ momentum because the fourth set went to a deciding fifth leg.

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Sadly for Menzies, who’s a plumber by commerce, the wheels quickly got here off as the group jeered each missed try at a double or a treble.

He missed 27 of his 32 double makes an attempt and as his sport fell aside in entrance of the partygoers inside, it rapidly turned an excessive amount of for Menzies as cameras captured tears welling in his eyes every time he stepped as much as the oche.

In reality it was laborious to look at at occasions as the group gave a participant clearly struggling a tough time. He later retweeted the video of his teary end accompanied by a publish from a fan that learn: ‘Scum from the group’.

Menzies’ companion – fellow darts star Sherrock – may solely watch on because the Scot merely could not dangle along with his rival.

Sweat was additionally seen pouring off the top of the 35-year-old, leaving his hair drenched.

Finally Gates closed out the victory and hugged Menzies in a decent embrace, sharing some phrases of encouragement for his crushed rival.

Though it was a depressing night for Menzies, Gates produced a scintillating efficiency and recorded three checkouts of 100 or extra.

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The American will now face Nathan Aspinall within the second spherical.

“It was it was very exhilarating. It is a good feeling proper now to maneuver to the second spherical and play some extra darts right here in England,” Gates instructed talkSPORT after the sport.

“Like I stated once I was right here two years in the past. That is the very best factor.

“If you happen to do not feed off that vitality nonetheless, you feed off of it. I imply, you needn’t come, you understand. I imply that that is that is some love vitality.”

Gates additionally revealed he gave Menzies a non-public present of help within the face of the boo boys at Ally Pally.

“I positively picked up on it all through the sport and like I instructed him in the long run, I simply stated use that vitality. I instructed him I stated, ‘you’ve gotten plenty of darts left in you.’

“We performed collectively in Vegas. So I do know what he can do. You already know when he is feeling good and he is had good having enjoyable and have an excellent time.

“He can throw some nice darts and I imply I hats off to him. You already know Cameron Menzies is a superb man an excellent opponent and I hope he retains going.”

This was echoed by Glen Durrant, the three-time Lakeside world champion, who stated: “On the ground, Cammy has been the very best participant within the room. He’s the one which has stood out.

“It looks like it’s a totally different sport if you go on stage. It’s simply not taking place for him. He is stuffed with emotion.

“While you take a look at his preparation, he should work out if he’s to discover a resolution about why he doesn’t play on the stage as he does on the ground. He’s extraordinarily gifted.

“However on the finish, it was a bit worrying, I didn’t know if he was getting upset. If the warmth was attending to him. It was a reasonably weird ending.

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“Very, very disappointing. He has individuals round him however he has to work it out himself. No level feeling sorry for himself. He’s an excellent darts participant. He has to discover a approach by means of this.

“The thrill of taking part in on that stage is there however 16 per cent on the doubles was going to be his Achilles heel.”

In November, Menzies opened up on his mindset and revealed he was trying into speaking to a sports activities psychologist.

What made Gates’ victory all of the sweeter – and maybe the extra stunning – was the actual fact he solely landed in London the day of his sport in opposition to Menzies.

The American put the travelling mishap right down to a easy ‘psychological mistake’.

“The reality is, I appeared on the bracket fallacious,” Gates stated.

“I did not know I needed to play Cameron at this time. I used to be trying on the 18th, the place it stated Nathan and it had Cameron Menzies or Leonard Gates.

“It was simply type of a psychological mistake, nevertheless it bugged me. All the pieces I used to be doing again within the States, my physique wasn’t feeling proper. So I received on my telephone and I used to be like, ‘Oh my god’, as a result of I really modified my flight to fly out on the fifteenth. Initially I used to be presupposed to fly out on the thirteenth.

“I received off the aircraft and received to the resort and checked in early. I did not fall asleep.

“I introduced my board with me, I used to be simply throwing on my board with me till I received over right here. I am going to go away right here, I do not know if I will crash or blow up or something. I am simply on vitality proper now.”

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