Dramatic Menzies Withdrawal Halts Play
The second round of the World Matchplay concluded on Wednesday evening under concerning circumstances, after Cameron Menzies was forced to withdraw through illness just four legs into his match with Ross Smith. The Scot had started well, levelling the contest after an 11-dart break from Smith before moving 2-1 ahead with a 75 checkout.
Menzies then began to feel unwell on stage and received medical attention before being helped away. The withdrawal meant Smith advanced to the quarter-finals, though not in a manner anyone would have wished. The incident caused a delay and a schedule change, with the all-Dutch clash between Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman brought forward by an hour.
That match proved to be a thriller, with Van Veen eventually prevailing 14-12 in a deciding leg to reach the quarter-finals for a second time. He produced a moment of high drama to stay in the contest, taking out a 148 finish to save the match before sealing the win. Afterwards, Van Veen stressed that the health of Menzies was the most important thing, putting his own rescheduled start time into perspective.
Wade and Price Book Last-Eight Berths
Elsewhere, James Wade booked his place in a 14th World Matchplay quarter-final with an 11-8 victory over Ryan Searle. The 2025 finalist produced a strong performance and was surprised to learn in his press conference that he had averaged 99.85. Wade was candid afterwards, describing his feelings as “elated” rather than emotional and paying tribute to the support of his wife.
Gerwyn Price also prevailed on the night to take the last remaining spot in the quarter-final draw. The evening’s results completed the lineup for the last eight, significantly shaping a tournament that has already provided several surprises for those following a darts betting guide.
