Cameron Menzies, the winner of Players Championship 29, recently 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 reassess his habits and take a more disciplined approach to his health. Menzies secured his second ProTour title of the 2026 season by defeating Dutch contender Gian van Veen 8-4 in the final, adding a fourth PDC ranking victory to his résumé after a remarkable run of seven straight wins at Maassport Den Bosch. The triumph came on the back of a stellar performance throughout the tournament, but the Scot could not ignore the lingering memory of a medical incident that forced him to withdraw from a previous event in Blackpool.
"Even before the incident, you could see I had lost some weight," Menzies recalled. "Last year, on the way to Switzerland, I was convinced I was suffering a heart attack on the plane.
My family has a history of heart problems, so I immediately booked a series of scans." The tests revealed that while his heart was fine, doctors advised him to shed a few pounds and monitor his blood pressure more closely. The Blackpool episode occurred during his second‑round match against Ross Smith. After feeling unwell, Menzies was taken to a medical facility where he underwent a battery of examinations. "The doctors think dehydration was the main culprit," he explained, "but the lack of fluids caused my blood pressure to spike because I panicked.
I've never experienced anything like that before." He spent ten hours at Glasgow's Jubilee Hospital for blood work and further cardiac checks. Apart from a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, all results came back normal. "They told me the dehydration was the cause, so I just need to look after myself better," Menzies said. He added that he now makes a point of drinking water and electrolyte solutions, especially during long competition days that can stretch from early morning until late afternoon.
At 37, Menzies acknowledges that age is catching up with him. "I'm getting older, so I have to be smarter about my diet and hydration," he noted. He mentioned that his breakfast on the day of the Blackpool match was simply porridge, and he had skipped a typical pizza meal that many players indulge in. "I need to be more disciplined," he admitted.
The Scottish darts professional also commented on the evolving fitness standards within the sport. "Nowadays many players jog or walk as part of their routine. Darts is probably fitter than ever because a new generation of young athletes is coming through the ranks.
When we started, we played in clubs and pubs, but now these youngsters are part of structured youth systems and are essentially fit athletes." Menzies' form at the Players Championship was nothing short of impressive. He opened his campaign with a 101+ average against Nick Kenny, then survived a dramatic comeback from Canada's Jim Long in a last‑leg decider. After dispatching Slovenia's Benjamin Pratnemer 6-4, he beat top seed Wessel Nijman by the same margin.
A 6-3 victory over Jeffrey de Graaf propelled him into the semi‑finals, where he overcame Kevin Doets to secure a spot in his third final in five events. In the final, Menzies surged to a 5-0 lead, denying Van Veen a dart at double in the opening burst.
Although the Dutchman rallied with three consecutive legs, the Scot steadied his nerves, taking three of the next four legs to clinch the match 8-4 and walk away with the €15,000 top prize. Reflecting on his achievements, Menzies said, "I'm grateful for where I am and I don't take any of it for granted. I want to finish the year on a high.
I'm qualified for the World Championship and possibly the Grand Slam, so I'm in a very fortunate position." The PDC ProTour season continues with Players Championship 30, and the race for the 2026 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals is heating up. The tournament summary includes: - 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, 6-3 Josh Rock, 6-5 Gian van Veen, 6-5 Nathan Aspinall.
- Quarter‑Finals: victories over Jeffrey de Graaf, Kevin Doets, Jermaine Wattimena, William O'Connor, Oskar Lukasiak, Gian van Veen, and Chris Dobey. - Semi‑Finals: 7-5 wins over Kevin Doets and Gian van Veen. - Final: 8-4 triumph over Gian van Veen. Highlights of the event also featured nine‑dart finishes from Cristo Reyes (against Ian White) and Max Hopp (against Tom Bissell).
Darts fans can continue to follow the sport 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) live. Streaming options are available via NOW without a contract.