Cameron Menzies captured his first-ever PDC ranking title with a stunning 8-4 victory over Stephen Bunting in Wednesday’s Players Championship 29 in Leicester. The Scotsman’s win comes after months of impressive form, and his latest performance only confirms his status as a rising star in darts. Winning the top prize of £15,000 at the Mattioli Arena also pushes Menzies into the top ten on the Players Championship Order of Merit.
An emotional Menzies shared his joy after the win, saying, “I’ve won a ProTour, and nobody can ever take that away from me. I wanted to win this title so much; I’m absolutely buzzing. At one stage, I never thought I was good enough to win a ProTour, but right now, I believe I’m playing the best darts of my life.”
Menzies’ road to victory was no easy feat. He faced and defeated six former major title winners, including Rob Cross, who he beat with a remarkable 107 average in the third round. The 35-year-old also showed his grit in a last-leg battle against Krzysztof Ratajski in the last 16, coming back from 5-3 down to win. In the quarter-finals, he confidently took down James Wade 6-2 before storming past Danny Noppert with a decisive 7-1 semi-final victory.
In the final, Menzies started strong with two quick checkouts of 78 and 86 to build a lead, but Bunting fought back, coming close to a nine-dart finish in the fifth leg and leveling the score at 3-3. However, Menzies responded with another streak of three straight legs, bringing him within reach of the title. Bunting tried to catch up with an impressive 120 checkout in the tenth leg, but Menzies kept his composure to seal the win.
For Bunting, this was his sixth appearance in a Players Championship final this year, but the hunt for his first ProTour title of 2024 continues. He had a strong run leading up to the final, with victories over players like Mike De Decker and Damon Heta.
The day was filled with excitement and remarkable performances, including three nine-darters from Chris Landman, Callan Rydz, and Ricardo Pietreczko. Landman’s semi-final run even moved him into the provisional World Championship spots.
With just one Players Championship event remaining on Thursday, the race to qualify for the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals is heating up. Menzies’ big win adds even more excitement as the ProTour season reaches its thrilling conclusion.
To follow more updates, highlights, and the journey to the Finals, make sure to stay tuned!
