Cameron Menzies has issued an apology after losing at the PDC World Darts Championship to debutant Charlie Manby.
Menzies led 1-0 and 2-1 in sets before Manby fought back, eventually securing the win with his seventh match dart, pinning D1.
Menzies, who was emotional when losing at last year's World Championship, returned to the drinks table to which he delivered a series of uppercuts, leaving him with bloodied knuckles before holding his hands up to the Ally Pally crowd in penance.
Speaking after the match, Menzies said: "First of all, I would to apologise for what happened. I am sorry that I reacted in the manner that I did. It’s not an excuse, but I have had a lot of things on my mind recently and I suppose it all just became too much at the end.
"It has not been easy time for me with my uncle Gary passing away recently. I saw him four days before he died and he gave a look which told he much he thought of me.
"Had I won the game against Charlie, my second match would have been on the day of Gary’s funeral.
"Let me say again, that’s no excuse for what I did on the stage. It was the wrong thing to do and I don’t want it to take anything away from Charlie. He played well.
"This is not how I would like people to view me. Yes I can get emotional at times, but not like that and that wasn’t right."
Players can be sanctioned under Darts Regulation Authority rules for aggressive, disruptive or abusive behaviour, and the 36-year-old might be about to face their wrath, with a fine and a ban potential outcomes of any disciplinary action.
