Cameron Menzies, the winner of Players Championship 29, has opened up about a frightening episode he experienced on a flight to Switzerland, when he genuinely believed he was suffering a heart attack. The scare forced him to take a hard look at his health and lifestyle choices.
Menzies secured his second ProTour title of the 2026 season by defeating Dutch rising star Gian van Veen 8-4 in the final held in Den Bosch, Netherlands. The victory marked his fourth PDC ranking title overall and came after an impressive run of seven consecutive wins throughout the tournament. After lifting the trophy, the 37‑year‑old Scot reflected on a medical incident that occurred earlier in the year in Blackpool.
During his second‑round match against Ross Smith, Menzies felt unwell and was forced to withdraw. "Even before that match, you could see I had lost a bit of weight," he said. "Last year, on a flight to Switzerland, I was convinced I was having a heart attack. It was terrifying, especially because heart disease runs in my family, so I immediately went for scans." The scans revealed no cardiac abnormality, but doctors did advise him to lose weight.
He later learned that the Blackpool episode was likely caused by severe dehydration, which spiked his blood pressure as panic set in. "I’ve never experienced anything like that before," Menzies explained. He spent ten hours at Glasgow Jubilee Hospital for a battery of tests, including blood work to rule out any serious conditions. Apart from a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, all results came back normal.
"They think the Blackpool incident was dehydration, so I just need to look after myself a bit more," he said. Menzies admitted that the long days on the circuit demand careful self‑care, especially as he gets older.
"I’ve been here since 9:30 this morning – these are marathon days. You have to stay hydrated and keep your electrolytes in balance. I usually would grab a pizza after a match, but now I’m trying to eat smarter. My breakfast today was just porridge, and I haven’t eaten much all day." He noted a shift in the sport’s physical demands, observing that many younger players now treat darts like a full‑time athletic pursuit.
"A lot of players now jog or walk as part of their routine. Darts is probably healthier than it ever was because all these young kids are coming through and they’re fit athletes. It’s not like when we grew up playing in clubs and pubs. These guys are in youth systems and they’re catching up," he added.
Menzies’ tournament performance was nothing short of stellar. He opened with a 101+ average against Nick Kenny, then survived a dramatic comeback from Canada’s Jim Long in a last‑leg decider. He continued his run by beating Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer 6‑4, followed by a 6‑4 victory over top seed Wessel Nijman. In the quarter‑finals he dispatched Jeffrey de Graaf 6‑3, and in the semi‑finals he edged Kevin Doets 7‑5 to set up the final against van Veen.
The final itself started explosively, with Menzies racing to a 5‑0 lead and denying van Veen a dart at double during a brilliant opening burst. The Dutchman rallied with three consecutive legs, but Menzes held his composure, taking three of the next four legs to seal an 8‑4 win 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 match. "I’d like to finish the year on a high.
I’m already in the World Championship and possibly the Grand Slam, so I’m in a very fortunate position." Looking ahead, the PDC ProTour continues with Players Championship 30 on Wednesday, as the race to qualify for the 2026 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals intensifies. For reference, here are the key results from Players Championship 29: - Last 16: Menzies 6‑4 Wessel Nijman; 6‑4 Jeffrey de Graaf; 6‑5 Danny Noppert; 6‑5 Kevin Doets; 6‑3 Cristo Reyes; 6‑3 Jermaine Wattimena; 6‑4 Callan Rydz; 6‑4 Oskar Lukasiak; 6‑4 Dave Chisnall; 6‑4 William O'Connor; 6‑3 Cor Dekker; 6‑3 Chris Dobey; 6‑5 Josh Rock; 6‑5 Gian van Veen; 6‑5 Nathan Aspinall. - Quarter‑Finals: Menzies 6‑3 Jeffrey de Graaf; 6‑2 Kevin Doets; 6‑3 Jermaine Wattimena; 6‑3 William O'Connor; 6‑5 Oskar Lukasiak; 6‑5 Gian van Veen; 6‑3 Chris Dobey. - Semi‑Finals: Menzies 7‑5 Kevin Doets; 7‑5 Gian van Veen.
- Final: Menzies 8‑4 Gian van Veen. The event also featured two perfect legs: Cristo Reyes hit a nine‑dart finish against Ian White, and Max Hopp did the same in his second‑round win over Tom Bissell.
Fans can continue to follow darts action on Sky Sports, which will broadcast 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). Streaming options are also available via NOW without a contract.