Blackpool: Cameron Menzies stuns Luke Humphries in World Matchplay first round

By Leo Ashworth · Sports News Writer · 21.07.2026

By Leo Ashworth — 21 July 2026 — 3 min read

Menzies secures notable victory

Cameron Menzies delivered a significant upset at the World Matchplay on Monday night, defeating Luke Humphries 10-7 in the first round at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Menzies, appearing in only his second World Matchplay, secured his first victory on the Winter Gardens stage with a superb finishing display, culminating in a 170 checkout.

The match saw a strong start with seven consecutive breaks of throw. Menzies initially took a 3-2 lead with a 129 checkout, but Humphries, the 2024 champion, responded with a 167 checkout to level the score after the first interval. Menzies then surged ahead, winning four consecutive legs to establish a 7-3 lead.

Despite Humphries winning four of the next five legs to narrow the gap, Menzies regained his composure. He landed a 98 checkout before sealing the match with a sensational 170 finish. This victory marks Menzies’ biggest win in the PDC, and he expressed his delight at finally winning a game at the Winter Gardens, acknowledging Humphries as a great player.

Wayne Mardle described Menzies’ performance as his best ever win, highlighting how Menzies handled the pressure and emotional swings throughout the game. Mardle noted that Menzies was broken back early twice and faced a strong spell from Humphries, but still managed to hold it together beautifully. This resilience suggests Menzies now knows he can handle challenging situations in his career.

Other first-round results

Following his win, Menzies is set to face Ross Smith in the second round. Smith advanced after overcoming Kevin Doets. Smith established an early 5-0 lead, which included a 10-dart leg and a 160 checkout. Although Doets reduced the deficit to 6-4 and later produced a 161 finish, Smith secured his victory with a 120 Shanghai finish.

In another first-round match, Gerwyn Price survived a scare against Martin Schindler, winning 11-9. Price trailed 4-0 and 6-2 before staging a comeback to lead 9-8. Schindler forced a tie-break with a 121 checkout, but Price immediately broke throw and finished with a 100 checkout to complete his turnaround. Price admitted that without the crowd’s support, he might have lost, describing his performance as one of his worst of the season.

Price will now play Rob Cross in the second round. Cross secured his spot with a convincing 10-3 win over Danny Noppert. Cross, the 2019 champion, led 5-0 at the break and maintained his advantage, averaging 97.41, hitting a 128 checkout, and achieving a 52.6 per cent success rate on his doubles.

Upcoming matches and tournament overview

The 2026 Betfred World Matchplay continues at the Winter Gardens, running from July 18-26, with a 32-player field competing for the Phil Taylor Trophy. The second round is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s matches include defending champion Luke Littler, who opened his title defence with a 10-6 win over Niko Springer, taking on Nathan Aspinall. Stephen Bunting will face Josh Rock after Bunting survived three match darts to defeat Niels Zonneveld 13-12. Three-time World Matchplay winner Michael van Gerwen is set to play fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode. Additionally, Gary Anderson, the 2018 champion, will compete against 2023 runner-up Jonny Clayton, following Anderson’s 10-2 victory over Ryan Joyce, where he recorded an average of 109.96.

Source: skysports.com

Leo Ashworth

Sports News Writer

Leo Ashworth is a Sports News Writer at Latest News UK. He cut his teeth on regional sport before specialising in fast breaking-news writing. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Newcastle, he follows the European Tour and boxes at an amateur gym. “Get it right first, then tell readers why it matters.”