Local Spots to Catch the Big Match in Paisley
January 19, 2026Scotland has long been famous for its darting world champions, from the iconic Jockey Wilson to modern day greats like Gary Anderson and Peter Wright.
Whether Cameron Menzies joins that illustrious company or not only time will tell, but having given up his job as a plumber to concentrate on darts full-time early last year, the 36-year-old’s career has been on the ascendancy ever since.
So can 2026 be the year that Menzies starts to challenge for major TV honours?
Worldly Wise
With World Darts Championship odds of 200/1, the bookmakers aren’t overly sweet on Menzies’ chances of replicating the feats of Jockey and co.
But with a world ranking of 26, he’s hardly a million miles away from challenging the best in the business – suggesting there may just be a hint of value in those darts betting markets.
The key for Menzies will be in overcoming the funk that seems to engulf him at the Alexandra Palace – leading to four consecutive exits in the first or second round of the World Championship.
Leonard Gates dances his way into the Second Round against an emotional Cameron Menzies 🕺 pic.twitter.com/OaZflk9LCy
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 16, 2024
The London crowds isn’t always kind to Scottish players on stage. And Menzies, who often appears to be a frenzied ball of energy when playing in front of big audiences, hasn’t always handled the occasion well.
In fact, in December, he made headline news when punching a table after another first-round exit at the Alexandra Palace – an incident that left the 36-year-old needing hospital treatment.
That, alongside a relationship with perhaps the most famous female dartist on the planet in Fallon Sherrock, has meant that Menzies has often made column inches for reasons outside his darting prowess in recent years.
But the Ayrshire man, who regards Glasgow as his spiritual home – not least as an ardent Rangers fan – is a tremendously talented player. And, when everything is going according to plan, Menzies is able to beat the very best that the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has to offer.
Pro Tour Star
It comes as no coincidence that Menzies’ best work in the PDC has come on their Pro Tour circuit.
Those events are played behind closed doors, with no fans present and only a minimal camera set-up for streaming purposes.
It’s just the two players and a referee in a cubicle – a quiet, low-key atmosphere that seems to bring the best out of Menzies.
And he certainly proved it in April when romping to a second Pro Tour title – defeating his fellow Scot, Peter Wright, in a final in which he averaged a mammoth 107.25.
Having won on the circuit in 2024, as well as reaching three other finals, the Pro Tour is clearly Menzies’ happy place.
If he could replicate that form on the TV stages, the Scot would surely be in with a chance of breaking into the vaunted top-16 of the world rankings.
Quarter finals day 😍
— Luke Humphries MBE (@lukeh180) October 10, 2025
It's been a good tournament for me so far, but I know there's more to come, and I'll be ready for Cameron tonight.
Can't wait to play in front of a packed crowd 💙
See you soon.@ModusDarts180 @reddragondarts @cygroup2 @TaylorMaxwellCo Radamec… pic.twitter.com/E3U3Fp3MgN
Quarter-final appearances at the Grand Slam of Darts and the European Darts Open suggest some forward momentum in that department, while a run to the last eight of the World Grand Prix in October – where he downed tough opponents in Chris Dobey and Rob Cross, before running into world number two Luke Humphries – is another show of progress.
With further marginal gains in 2026, the sky is the limit for one of darts’ most intriguing characters.
