In a shock announcement that has sent ripples through the PDC circuit, Scottish darts star Cameron Menzies has confirmed he will retire from professional competition immediately following the upcoming World Cup of Darts. The 35-year-old cites the “complete failure” of an intensive hypnotherapy program as the primary reason for his sudden decision to hang up his darts.
Menzies, known for his explosive finishing and visible emotional struggles on the oche, revealed in a candid social media statement that he had pinned his hopes of breaking into the sport’s elite top 16 on a radical new sports psychology regimen. The therapy, which involved daily trance-induction sessions aimed at eliminating his yips and stage fright, allegedly backfired.
“I went into hypnotherapy looking for a killer instinct. I came out unable to hold a dart without giggling at the flight,” Menzies told The Darts Examiner. “The specialist told me he would ‘reboot my subconscious’ to remove my fear of missing doubles. Instead, he convinced my brain that the dartboard is a portal to Narnia and that double 16 is actually a sleeping dragon.”
The former Development Tour winner explained that his practice game has collapsed to the point of farce. “Last week, I threw 18 perfect darts in a practice session against my mate. Then the hypnotic trigger—a cough from the crowd—made me stand on one leg and quack before throwing for the bullseye. You can’t make this up.”
Menzies confirmed he will fulfil his commitment to represent Scotland at the World Cup of Darts alongside teammate Gary Anderson, calling it a “final act of dignity.” However, he warned fans to expect unusual behaviour.
“If you see me tapping the board three times before retrieving my darts, that’s not a new routine. That’s the hypnotist’s suggestion that I’m ‘dancing with the Tungsten Spirits.’ I plan to retire immediately after the last leg of Scotland’s final match—ideally before I try to high-five the referee’s calculator.”
PDC spokesperson Matt Ward expressed disappointment but accepted Menzies’ decision. “We have protocols for injuries, illness, even stage fright. We do not have a protocol for a player who believes the treble 20 bed is whispering his mother’s lasagne recipe. We wish Cameron well.”
Fellow players reacted with a mix of sympathy and disbelief. Michael van Gerwen quipped, “If hypnotherapy fails, try beer. Works for most Dutchmen.” Meanwhile, Menzies’ former doubles partner John Henderson was more somber: “He was a hell of a talent. The game will miss him, even if he now insists on calling his darts ‘magic bananas.’”
Menzies’ retirement leaves a gap in the Scottish ranks and a cautionary tale for players seeking unconventional mental coaching. As for his own future, the Scotsman remains characteristically blunt: “I’ll be selling my darts kit on eBay—starting bid includes a free hypnotherapy tape. Just don’t listen to the part where the man tells you your oche is a tightrope over a crocodile pit.”
The World Cup of Darts begins June 12 in Frankfurt. Whether Menzies will finish his final match, or instead try to marry a dartboard in a trance-induced ceremony, remains to be seen.
