Cameron Menzies, the winner of Players Championship 29, opened up about a frightening episode he experienced on a flight to Switzerland, where he genuinely believed he was having a heart attack. The scare forced him to take a hard look at his health habits and prompted a series of medical checks. Menzies secured his second ProTour title of the 2026 season on Tuesday, defeating Dutch competitor Gian van Veen 8‑4 in the final held in Den Bosch.
The 37‑year‑old Scot has been on an impressive run, adding a fourth PDC ranking victory to his résumé after a string of seven consecutive wins throughout the tournament. After lifting the trophy, Menzies reflected on the medical incident that occurred earlier in the year in Blackpool.
He had been forced to withdraw from a tournament when he fell ill during his second‑round match against Ross Smith. "Even before that happened, you could see I’d lost a bit of weight. Last year, on a flight to Switzerland, I was convinced I was having a heart attack," he recounted.
"Heart problems run in my family, so I immediately booked scans. The scans showed no cardiac abnormality, but doctors advised him to lose weight. When the Blackpool episode unfolded, further tests suggested dehydration was the primary cause, which in turn spiked his blood pressure because he panicked – something he had never experienced before.
Menzies spent ten hours at Glasgow Jubilee Hospital for a battery of blood tests to rule out any serious conditions, including heart disease. Apart from a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, everything else came back normal. The medical team concluded that dehydration was the likely trigger for the Blackpool collapse, and they urged him to pay more attention to his hydration and overall wellbeing. "I’m going to start drinking more water and taking electrolytes," he said.
"But we’re not all professional athletes; the days are long, and you have to look after yourself. I’ve been here since 9:30 am, and as I get older I need to be more mindful of my health." He admitted that his usual breakfast on tournament days is now a simple bowl of porridge, and he has cut back on the pizza and other indulgences that used to be part of his routine. "I used to grab a pizza between matches, but I need to be smarter about my diet," he explained. Menzies also observed a shift in the physical conditioning of modern darts players.
"A lot of players now jog or walk as part of their preparation. Darts is probably fitter than it’s ever been because a new generation of young athletes is coming through. They’re in youth academies, they’re training like any other sport. It’s not like when we grew up playing in clubs and pubs.
These guys are fit, athletic, and they’re catching up quickly," he added. During the tournament, Menzies displayed his usual high‑level performance, averaging over 101 in his opening win over Nick Kenny and then edging out Canada’s Jim Long in a dramatic last‑leg decider. He continued his march by beating Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer 6‑4 and top‑seed Wessel Nijman by the same margin.
In the quarter‑finals he dispatched Jeffrey de Graaf 6‑3, and in the semi‑finals he overcame Kevin Doets to secure his place in a third Players Championship final in his last five events. The final against van Veen began with Menzies racing to a 5‑0 lead, denying his opponent a dart at double in the opening burst. Van Veen rallied with three successive legs, but the Scot steadied his nerves, taking three of the next four legs to clinch the match and the €15,000 prize.
"I’m grateful to be in this position and I don’t take it for granted," Menzies said after the win. "I’d like to finish the year on a high.
I’m already qualified for the World Championship and possibly the Grand Slam, so I’m in a very fortunate spot." The PDC ProTour schedule moves on with Players Championship 30 slated for Wednesday, as the race to qualify for the 2026 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals intensifies. Below is a summary of the 2026 Players Championship 29 results: - Last 16: Cameron Menzies 6‑4 Wessel Nijman; Jeffrey de Graaf 6‑4 Danny Noppert; Kevin Doets 6‑5 Cristo Reyes; Jermaine Wattimena 6‑3 Callan Rydz; Oskar Lukasiak 6‑4 Dave Chisnall; William O'Connor 6‑4 Cor Dekker; Chris Dobey 6‑3 Josh Rock; Gian van Veen 6‑5 Nathan Apsinall - Quarter‑Finals: Menzies 6‑3 Jeffrey de Graaf; Kevin Doets 6‑2 Jermaine Wattimena; William O'Connor 6‑3 Oskar Lukasiak; Gian van Veen 6‑5 Chris Dobey - Semi‑Finals: Menzies 7‑5 Kevin Doets; Gian van Veen 7‑5 William O'Connor - Final: Menzies 8‑4 Gian van Veen Highlights from the event included a nine‑dart finish by Cristo Reyes in his opening match against Ian White and another perfect leg by Max Hopp in his second‑round win over Tom Bissell. Looking ahead, Sky Sports will continue to broadcast major darts events, including the World Grand Prix (28 September–4 October), the Grand Slam of Darts (14–22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December–3 January). Fans can stream all action via NOW without a contract.