Cameron Menzies has prevailed in Players Championship 11 on Tuesday on a day where several of the Premier League stars bowed out in the first round.
Over the weekend, world number one Luke Humphries made a point of criticising the intense schedule that the top players face, revealing that he had reached a point where he needed a break.
Humphries was harshly criticised for his comments, yet his point went some way to being proven on Tuesday as the likes of Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen - hindered by an injured shoulder - and Gerwyn Price were eliminated at the first hurdle.
Menzies was ultimately the player to capitalise, facing just one top-32 player - Peter Wright in the final - on his way to a second PDC Tour title.
The Scot was never pushed to a deciding leg throughout the day and saved his best performance for the final against his Scottish compatriot, averaging 107.25 in an 8-3 victory.
Despite losing the first leg, Menzies responded with five on the trot, and although Wright would reduce the deficit to 5-3, Menzies proceeded to hit three 13-dart legs in succession to seal a dominant win.
MENZIES WINS PC11! 🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 8, 2025
Cameron Menzies loves it here in Leicester, as he wins his second PDC title here in the Mattioli Arena in the space of seven months, as he beats compatriot Peter Wright 8-3, averaging over 107 on his way to victory!
📺 https://t.co/YyBPPwoMK8#PC11 pic.twitter.com/opwxSKFFsj
Littler, Van Gerwen woes
Having lost 6-2 to Chris Dobey in his latest Premier League fixture, world champion Littler went down 6-3 to Dylan Slevin with a 90.11 average on Tuesday.
Although Littler recovered from 3-0 down to 4-3 adrift, he watched the world number 61 reel off back-to-back 14-darters to seal one of the best wins of his career.
Meanwhile, Van Gerwen lost 6-5 to Maik Kuivenhoven having battled back from 4-0 and 5-2 down, and Gerwyn Price succumbed 6-4 to Welsh compatriot Rob Owen.
Humphries would go down 6-5 to Brett Claydon in the last 64, with other Premier League players such as Stephen Bunting and Nathan Aspinall choosing not to enter due to reaching the final of the latest European Tour event over the weekend.
Darren Plant
