Cameron Menzies has never been one to bite his tongue. But this time, the Scottish darts firebrand didn’t just speak his mind—he updated his CV.
The world No. 32 sent shockwaves through the oche community this week when he took to social media to announce he was “dumping darts” and returning to his former trade as a plumber. In a post that has since racked up thousands of reactions, Menzies shared a screenshot of his job application on Indeed.com, complete with the caption: “The game is rigged. Back to the plumbing.”
The post came just hours after a gut-wrenching 6-5 defeat to former world champion Rob Cross in the fourth round of the UK Open—a loss that clearly cut deeper than most.
But before fans start mourning his departure from the sport, Menzies has clarified: he’s not actually retiring.
A joke with a jagged edge
In a follow-up interview, the 30-year-old Scot admitted the job application was equal parts frustration and dark humour—but insisted it carried a kernel of truth about the harsh economics of professional darts.
“Look, I’m a qualified plumber. I’ve still got my tools in the van,” Menzies told reporters. “People think once you’re in the top 32, you’re minted. You’re not. Not even close.”
He added: “That Cross loss hurt. It hurt bad. And in that moment, honestly? Fixing a leaking U-bend felt more appealing than another ranking event where I’m playing for pennies against guys who’ve got everything handed to them.”
The post was deliberately tongue-in-cheek—his CV listed skills such as “throwing 180s under pressure” and “unblocking toilets with extreme precision”—but the underlying sentiment has resonated with fellow pros struggling to make ends meet.
The real cost of the oche
Menzies’ outburst shines a spotlight on a long-simmering grievance within the PDC tour: the gap between the sport’s elite and its rank-and-file professionals.
While the likes of Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen rake in seven-figure prize money, players outside the top 16 often rely on second jobs, sponsorship scraps, or family support to fund travel, accommodation, and entry fees across the gruelling 30-plus event calendar.
Menzies, who juggles plumbing work between tournaments, has previously spoken about the mental toll of losing money on bad weeks.
“One bad first-round exit and you’re down £2,000 after flights and hotels,” he explained. “You don’t get appearance fees. You don’t get travel expenses. You turn up, you lose, you go home poorer. Tell me that’s not rigged.”
PDC responds
The Professional Darts Corporation has yet to issue an official statement, but sources close to the organisation point to record prize funds in 2026 and increased opportunities via the ProTour and development tours.
However, critics argue that while the top prizes have grown, the distribution remains heavily skewed—with first-round losers at many events taking home less than the cost of their plane ticket.
What’s next for Menzies?
Despite the viral CV, Menzies has confirmed he will not be swapping his darts for a drain rod full-time—at least not yet.
“I’ll be at the next ProTour event,” he said. “But if I get knocked out first round again, don’t be surprised if I update my Indeed profile to ‘available for emergency call-outs’.”
He ended with a grin: “At least pipes don’t talk back.”
The verdict
Menzies’ “job hunt” may have been a joke, but it’s no laughing matter for the dozens of professionals fighting for survival below darts’ glittering surface. Whether the PDC takes note remains to be seen—but for now, Cameron Menzies is keeping his day job, and his tungsten grip, firmly intact.
For now, the only thing Menzies is dump is his frustration—one 180 at a time.
