Cameron Menzies Takes Ill During World Matchplay

In a concerning incident at the World Matchplay 2026, Cameron Menzies required medical attention after falling ill during his second-round match against Ross Smith in Blackpool on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. While Menzies was leading the match 2-1, he stepped away from the oche, appearing unsteady. Both Smith and the referee assisted him off stage for medical evaluation.

Medical professionals later confirmed that Menzies had been cleared but he was unable to return to continue the match, resulting in his forfeit. The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) reported that Menzies experienced high blood pressure, which led to dizziness and fainting. Following an assessment by on-site medical staff, he was deemed fit enough to return to his accommodation. The PDC offered their best wishes, stating, "We wish Cameron all the best and look forward to seeing him back in action soon."

In other matches, seventh seed Gerwyn Price achieved a notable victory against former world champion Rob Cross, initially trailing 2-3 before winning six consecutive legs for an 11-5 victory that positioned him for a quarter-final match against Smith. Gian van Veen, the world number three, secured his spot in the quarter-finals by defeating fellow Dutch player Wessel Nijman in a nail-biting tie-break, winning 14-12 after both players recorded 100-plus checkouts.

Meanwhile, sixth seed James Wade completed the quarter-final lineup with an impressive performance against Ryan Searle, the 11th seed, winning the match 11-8. This will mark Wade's 14th quarter-final appearance in the Matchplay, where he is set to face Van Veen.

The schedule for the quarter-finals will continue on Thursday, July 23, 2026, beginning at 20:00 BST, featuring matches between Luke Littler and Josh Rock, and Gary Anderson against Dirk van Duijvenbode.