Cameron Menzies, the winner of Players Championship 29, has opened up about a frightening incident that occurred on a flight to Switzerland, where he believed he was experiencing a heart attack. The scare forced him to reassess his health habits and lifestyle choices. Menzes secured his second ProTour title of the 2026 season by defeating Dutch rival Gian van Veen 8-4 in the final in Den Bosch.
The victory marked his fourth PDC ranking triumph and capped a remarkable run of seven consecutive wins at the tournament. After lifting the trophy, the 37‑year‑old Scottish player reflected on a medical episode that took place earlier in the year in Blackpool.
During his second‑round match against Ross Smith, Menzies felt unwell and was forced to withdraw. "Even before the incident, you could see I had lost a bit of weight," he said. "Last year, on the way to Switzerland, I genuinely thought I was having a heart attack while on the plane.
Heart problems run in my family, so I went for scans straight away." The scans showed no cardiac abnormality, but doctors warned him that his weight was a factor. When the Blackpool episode was later investigated, the medical team concluded that dehydration had caused his blood pressure to spike, a reaction he had never experienced before. Menzies spent ten hours at Glasgow's Jubilee Hospital for a battery of tests, including blood work to rule out serious conditions. Apart from a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, everything else came back normal.
The consensus was that dehydration, combined with panic, had triggered the episode. "I need to look after myself more," he admitted. "I’m not a full‑time athlete, but the days are long – I’ve been at the venue since 9:30 am. As I get older, I have to be smarter about my health." He noted that his breakfast on the day of the Blackpool match was simply porridge, and he had not eaten anything else.
In the past he might have grabbed a pizza, but now he is trying to make better nutritional choices. Menzies also observed a shift in the physical conditioning of modern darts players. "Many of the younger competitors jog or walk regularly.
The game is probably fitter than ever because a new generation of athletes is coming through the youth systems. When we grew up, we played in clubs and pubs; now these kids are training like any other sport." During the Players Championship, Menzies averaged over 101 in his opening win against Nick Kenny and survived a tense last‑leg decider against Canada’s Jim Long. He then beat Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer 6‑4 and top seed Wessel Nijman by the same scoreline.
In the quarter‑finals he dispatched Jeffrey de Graaf 6‑3 with another high average, and in the semi‑finals he edged past Kevin Doets to reach his third final in five events. In the championship match he surged to a 5‑0 lead, denying Van Veen a dart at double during an explosive start. Although the Dutchman rallied with three straight legs, Menzies held his nerve, taking three of the next four legs to close out the match 8‑4 and claim the £15,000 prize.
"I’m grateful to be here 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 qualified for the World Championship and possibly the Grand Slam, so I’m in a very fortunate position." The PDC ProTour continues with Players Championship 30 on Wednesday, and the race for the 2026 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals is heating up. Below is a summary of the 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, 6‑3 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 in his opening round win over Ian White, and Max Hopp recorded a nine‑dart leg in his second‑round victory over Tom Bissell. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast darts throughout the season, 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 the action via NOW without a contract.