Cameron Menzies defeats defending champion Humphries in World Matchplay opening round

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/menzies-cameron/2NUpDqVt/"]Menzies[/a]' stunning win over world number two [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/humphries-luke/n34VOAWo/"]Humphries[/a] made it successive nights for Scottish triumphs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/darts-world-matchplay-anderson-rolls-back-the-years-to-storm-into-world-matchplay-second-round/4IhSWgbM/"]after Gary Anderson's stellar performance on Sunday[/a].[/p][p]Appearing in only his second World Matchplay, Menzies produced a superb finishing display to register his first victory on the Winter Gardens stage.[/p][p]After seven straight breaks of throw to open the contest, including a 129 checkout from Menzies and a 167 finish from Humphries, the Scot moved 8-3 ahead.[/p][p]Humphries responded by taking the next four legs, but Menzies restored his composure with a 98 checkout before sealing the biggest win of his career with a sensational 170 finish.[/p][embed guid="2f9c010d-58c6-4a8f-b7dd-4480d93c7795" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2079312656876376573?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"No matter what I do in my life, I will take this to my grave," [/b]Menzies said.[/p][p][b]"No one gave me hope. I didn't give myself hope, (but) I've finally won a game at the Winter Gardens![/b][/p][p][b]"To beat someone as amazing as Humphries on this stage... that's my biggest win in the PDC."[/b][/p][p]Menzies will now face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-ross/l8mIsYNm/"]Ross Smith[/a] in the second round after the former European champion overcame a spirited fightback from debutant [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doets-kevin/I14LCcyQ/"]Kevin Doets[/a].[/p][p]Smith raced into a 5-0 lead, helped by a 10-dart leg and a 160 checkout, before Doets cut the deficit to 6-4.[/p][p]The Englishman moved to within one leg by winning three in a row, and although Doets produced a 161 finish to extend the match, Smith wrapped up victory with a 120 checkout.[/p][image alt="Smith celebrates" id="d091d069-f3ce-4fde-ac27-111ec3332e5a" credit-line="Taylor Lanning / PDC" guid="6b2cdc0a-a238-4712-a1ea-ed42236bc367" original-width="2224" original-height="2400" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/price-gerwyn/8dDDoW0B/"]Gerwyn Price[/a] also came from behind to beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/schindler-martin/pWemrnqQ/"]Martin Schindler[/a] 11-9 and record his sixth first-round win on the bounce in Blackpool.[/p][p]The Welshman trailed 4-0 and 6-2 before recovering to lead 9-8, only for Schindler to force a tie-break with a 121 checkout.[/p][p]Price immediately broke throw before taking out 100 to complete the turnaround.[/p][embed guid="d5874632-2fb7-4223-acc1-4c8f82640fff" url="https://x.com/OfficialPDC/status/2079298555370488064?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"Without the crowd, I would have lost today,"[/b] Price said.[/p][p][b]"It was probably the worst I've played all season. It was a tough one for me. I'm low on confidence at the minute because I haven't played a lot.[/b][/p][p][b]"That's probably one of those games I should have lost, but I've won. I'm still in the tournament."[/b][/p][p]Price will face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cross-rob/zs8lbtNH/"]Rob Cross[/a] in the second round after the former world champion completed the opening round with a comfortable 10-3 victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/noppert-danny/YmMfGEz0/"]Danny Noppert[/a].[/p][p]Round two begins on Tuesday, with defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/littler-luke/0URN6Xks/"]Luke Littler[/a] taking on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aspinall-nathan/KURJJrU5/"]Nathan Aspinall[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-gerwen-michael/SU4UkKsm/"]Michael van Gerwen[/a] facing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-duijvenbode-dirk/fVUrttSI/"]Dirk van Duijvenbode[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/clayton-jonny/tx0y2xRD/"]Jonny Clayton[/a] meeting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anderson-gary/MyKZZS6r/"]Gary Anderson[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bunting-stephen/xANKMtPG/"]Stephen Bunting[/a] playing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rock-josh/xKxxNY1P/"]Josh Rock[/a].[/p][h2]Monday's results[/h2][p]Ross Smith 10-6 Kevin Doets[/p][p]Gerwyn Price 11-9 Martin Schindler[/p][p]Cameron Menzies 10-7 Luke Humphries[/p][p]Rob Cross 10-3 Danny Noppert[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/darts/world/world-matchplay/"]Follow the World Matchplay with Flashscore[/a][/h2]