Rangers-mad darts star considered quitting after gruesome Ally Pally injury left him with 'no feeling' in right hand
The Ayrshire star lost his temper and punched a drinks table in frustration after being knocked out of the World Championship
Darts star Cameron Menzies has opened up for the first time on the pain and anguish which followed his nightmare World Championship outburst - revealing he came close quitting the sport in the wake of his Ally Pally meltdown.
The Rangers-daft Ayrshire ace returned to the big stage on Friday for the first time since his gruesome Alexandra Palace nightmare over the festive period, beating Richie Edhouse 6-4 at the Poland Darts Open.
And Menzies confessed the injury he suffered from repeatedly punching the underside of a drinks table in anger at the Worlds has left him with “no feeling” in the fingers of his right hand.
The Scot concedes he made “a massive mistake” in his life and will now have to deal with the stigma of being the “table puncher” after bursting his hand open and leaving the stage with blood pouring from the wound following his defeat to young Englishman Charlie Manby.
Ally Pally injury left Cameron Menzies considering his darts future
Menzies required surgery and is still undergoing treatment, with the subsequent six-week spell on the sidelines making him consider his darts future.
“I’ve made a massive mistake in my life,” the 36-year-old sighed. “I have to live with that. I’ll be honest with you, a few times I’ve felt like wrapping it. I’m just not in a good place that way. Obviously, what happened at the Worlds, I’ve done a lot of damage to myself. Basically I’ve no feeling in my fingers anymore because of the damage I’ve done.
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“I couldn’t throw for six weeks. I had to go through surgery. I’ve still to go through hand treatment and trauma. I was lucky it was not as bad as what it could have been. I’m not proud of it, but I’m lucky I can still play because they operated on me and said it was maybe severed and stuff, so I had to go through a hand specialist.
“No words could explain how I felt at that time. Waking up with the breathing tube and stuff. For a game of darts, I was stupid and I have to deal with it. When they operated on me, they said I was lucky that I’ve not severed any nerves and tendons. I’ve just battered and bruised them.
“So, at the moment, I’ve no feeling in one side of my finger, but I hold the dart the other side, so I’m kind of lucky that way. They say it (feeling) will come back. Like I say, I have to live with the reputation of being the table-puncher and stuff and I have to deal with that. We all make mistakes. Unfortunately, I made a big mistake and have to accept it.”
Menzies: ‘I’ve been struggling massively’
Muirkirk-born Menzies - who previously issued a public apology for losing his cool - has endured a difficult spell away from the Oche following the death of his uncle.
And revealed to almost pulling out of travelling to Krakow earlier this week, but after grinding out his first round match against Edhouse, he commented: “It was finally good to play well but I’ve been struggling massively.
“It was good to win again because it’s been a tough year. Honestly, I was so close to pulling out this weekend. I’m not enjoying it at the moment. That (today) has given me a bit of love back.
“I was nervous, but good up there. But going for a double it was always hope than: I’m hitting this. But, as soon as that first dart went in, I was getting a 180. That’s the best I’ve ever played on the Euro Tour. I’ve still got a long way to go, but good to play half decent again.”
Menzies will face James Wade on the second round on Saturday afternoon, while compatriot Gary Anderson meets either Wessel Nijman or Thomas Lovely during the same order of play.