Canada’s David (Excalibur) Cameron loses opening match at world darts championship

LONDON — Serbian-born Austrian Mensur (The Gentle) Suljovic defeated Canada’s David (Excalibur) Cameron in first-round play Monday at the five-million-pound ($9.21-million) Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

After losing the first set, the 56-year-old from Fall River, N.S., rallied to win the second set three legs to two. But Suljovic took the next two sets to win 3-1.

The 53-year-old Suljovic is ranked No. 60 on the Order of Merit. The unranked Cameron qualified as the top-ranked Canadian on the Championship Darts Corporation (CDC) circuit.

The 33rd edition of the world championship, which runs through Jan. 3 at London’s Alexandra Palace, features an expanded 128-player field in search of the Sid Waddell Trophy and the one-million-pound ($1.84-million) winner’s purse.

Cameron earned 15,000 pounds ($27,620) as a first-round loser.

Hamilton’s Matt (Ginja Ninja) Campbell, ranked 59th, faces American Adam Sevada on Wednesday. Sevada qualified in August by winning his fifth CDC ProTour title of 2025.

The 36-year-old Campbell is making his seventh trip to the darts showcase.

Campbell defeated Lourence Ilagan of the Philippines in first-round play in December 2023, marking his first win at the world championship in five tries. He then upset 13th-seeded James (The Machine) Wade of England before losing to English teenager Luke (The Nuke) Littler, who finished runner-up that year.

Littler won the world championship last tine out — in January 2025 at the tender age of 17 years 347 days — defeating Michael van Gerwen of the Netherlands 7-3.

Campbell opened with a win over Suljovic at last year’s tournament before losing to 20th seed Ryan (Heavy Metal) Searle of England.

Cameron qualified for the tournament by finishing as the top-ranked Canadian on the Championship Darts Corporation ProTour season.

Cameron recorded a remarkable comeback at the 2023 world championship, winning nine of the last 10 legs en route to a first-round win over England’s Ritchie (Madhouse) Edhouse. Cameron was one leg away from defeat and had survived six match darts, down two sets and two legs to none, when he started his comeback

Cameron, a former world senior darts masters champion, then lost to Danny Noppert of the Netherlands.

Canadian Jim (Gentleman) Long missed out on this year’s tournament after failing to secure one of the final five berths available to a field of 44 advance at a Tour Card Holder Qualifier in Leicester, England.

Long, a retired autoworker from London, Ont., turned heads in 2018 when he defeated Northern Ireland’s Mickey (The Clonoe Cyclone) Mansell in the first round.

Canadian John (Darth Maple) Part won the world darts championship in 2003, beating English legend Phil (The Power) Taylor to end his run of eight victories. Taylor bounced back to win the next three years before Part, now a well-known TV darts pundit, won again in 2008.

Part was runner-up in 2001.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 15, 2025.

The Canadian Press