Champion Humphries dumped out of World Matchplay
Cameron Menzies defeated Luke Humphries 10-7 in the first round of the World Matchplay, ending the 2024 champion's title defence in a major tournament upset.
Cameron Menzies defeated Luke Humphries 10-7 in the first round of the World Matchplay on Monday night. Menzies secured the victory by landing a 170 checkout, known in the sport as The Big Fish, to stun the 2024 champion.
The result marks a significant early exit for Humphries and a milestone for Menzies, who noted he had finally won a match at the Winter Gardens. The tournament, broadcast live on Sky Sports platforms until the end of July, has lost its reigning titleholder at the first hurdle.
The evening session opened with Rob Cross defeating Danny Noppert in the final first-round clash. Cross established early dominance by breaking in the opening leg and went on to mount a three-break whitewash after the interval.
Cross, nicknamed Voltage, demonstrated strong finishing, notably taking out a 128 checkout by hitting the bullseye. Noppert had multiple opportunities to hold his throw but missed crucial doubles, allowing Cross to capitalize on the errors and secure the win.
However, the headline outcome was the Humphries loss. The match was a volatile contest where Menzies built a 7-3 lead before facing a strong response. Humphries won four consecutive legs to narrow the deficit and apply severe pressure on Menzies' doubling.
"At 7-3 I was just trying not to think of that finishing line but the nerves kicked in," Menzies said. "I know he was going to have a spell and batter me and he had a little spell but lucky enough I had that lead."
Analyst Wayne Mardle highlighted Menzies' mental composure during the fluctuating match. "Nothing went according to plan. He was broken back early twice," Mardle said. "There was a lot happening in that game, but he held it all together beautifully."
Menzies acknowledged the emotional challenge of the victory against a top-ranked opponent. "I show a lot of emotion and I hate that I do that. I'm trying to keep myself intact," he said. Mardle concluded that the performance proved a turning point for the player: "He knows he can handle anything now."
