Cameron Menzies, the 2026 Players Championship 29 champion, recently opened up about a frightening health scare that occurred while he was travelling to Switzerland. The Scottish darts professional admitted that he genuinely believed he was experiencing a heart attack on an airline flight, a moment that forced him to take a hard look at his lifestyle choices and overall wellbeing.
Menzies secured his second ProTour title of the 2026 season by beating Dutch contender Gian van Veen 8-4 in the final held in Maassport Den Bosch. The victory added a fourth PDC ranking title to his résumé and capped a remarkable run of seven consecutive match wins. In the aftermath of the triumph, the 37‑year‑old reflected on the medical episode that forced him to withdraw from a tournament in Blackpool.
During his second‑round match against Ross Smith, Menzies felt unwell and was compelled to leave the arena. "Even before the incident, you could see I had lost some weight," he explained. "Last year, on a flight to Switzerland, I was convinced I was having a heart attack. Because heart disease runs in my family, I immediately went for a full set of scans." The scans revealed that he needed to shed a few more pounds, but the immediate cause of the Blackpool collapse was later identified as severe dehydration.
"After the Ross Smith match I underwent a battery of tests. The doctors told me my blood pressure spiked because I was panicking and dehydrated – something I had never experienced before," Menzies said. He spent ten hours at Glasgow's Jubilee Hospital for blood work and other examinations. Apart from a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, all results came back normal.
"They concluded the Blackpool incident was dehydration, so the message is simple: I have to look after myself better," he added. Menzies described the practical steps he is now taking. "I will hydrate more, drink electrolyte solutions, and be mindful of my nutrition. 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 need to be smarter about recovery and health. Today my breakfast was just porridge; I would normally grab a pizza, but I’m trying to improve my habits." He also noted a broader trend in darts: "Many players now incorporate jogging or walking into their routines. The sport is fitter than ever because a new generation of young athletes is coming through the ranks. When we started, we played in clubs and pubs; now these kids are part of structured youth systems and they’re very athletic." Menzies' form in the tournament 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 deciding leg. After a 6-4 win over Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer, he dispatched top seed Wessel Nijman by the same scoreline.
In the quarter‑finals he beat Jeffrey de Graaf 6-3, followed by a 6-5 victory over Kevin Doets in the semi‑finals, securing his place in a third Players Championship final in five events. In the final, Menzies surged to a 5‑0 lead, denying Van Veen a dart at double during an explosive opening burst. Although Van Veen rallied with three straight legs, the Scot steadied himself, taking three of the next four legs to close out the match 8‑4 and claim the £15,000 top prize.
Reflecting on his achievements, Menzies said, "I’m grateful for where I am and I certainly don’t take it for granted. I want to finish the year on a high.
I’m already qualified for the World Championship and possibly the Grand Slam, so I feel very fortunate." The PDC ProTour schedule continues with Players Championship 30 on Wednesday, intensifying the race for spots in the 2026 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals. Below is a summary of the 2026 Players Championship 29 results: - 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. Highlights of the event included a nine‑dart finish by Cristo Reyes in his first‑round win over Ian White and another perfect leg from Max Hopp against Tom Bissell.
Looking ahead, Sky Sports will continue to be the primary broadcaster for darts, covering major events such as 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.