Cameron Menzies could not believe what he had done after a catastrophic miscalculation at the European Darts Trophy. He and Mike De Decker were already making hard work of their last-leg decider in Gottingen by the time a lapse in concentration from Menzies stunned everyone in attendance.
The Scot was down to a finish after nine darts, and he came within one of nailing a 138 checkout after hitting both of the required treble 20s. But it was when he got down to 18 that everything went pear-shaped, as he missed three darts at the double nine and put his hands to his head, fearing that he had lost the match with De Decker only requiring 28.
Incredibly, De Decker stepped up, hit the big 14 and then missed two darts at double seven to pass it back over to Menzies. But in a bizarre turn of events, Menzies appeared to look at the wrong score as he hit six and double four to take out the 14 that De Decker required, leaving him four short of the 18 he needed himself.
Upon realising, Menzies immediately hit the deck and lay face-down next to the oche with his hands covering his face.
PDC TV commentator Paul Nicholson shouted: “What’s he doing?! What have you done, Cameron! It was six, double six, you know that on 18! And De Decker is just a viewer of the drama that’s happening. He’s looked at De Decker’s score and thought ‘I’ve got that’, and he hasn’t.”
Menzies took an age to climb back up and compose himself, as De Decker then had the chance to close out their third-round clash with another three goes at double seven.
But the drama continued as De Decker missed his first dart outside and his second inside, rendering a finish impossible with his final attempt. Having had a pop at the match with his 12th dart of the leg, Menzies eventually converted with his 19th, as he took out double two at the first attempt before turning around, shaking hands with De Decker and raising a hand of apology to the crowd.
De Decker was quick to scurry off stage after having blown a massive opportunity to advance.
“Have you ever seen anything like that on that European Tour?” Nicholson concluded. “Cameron Menzies with a miscount to win the match! He then fell to the floor, flopped his face to the ground in Ricardo Pietreczko style, and yet, Mike De Decker offered him more chances.”
