Cameron Menzies, the 2026 Players Championship 29 champion, recently opened up about a frightening episode he experienced on a flight to Switzerland, where he genuinely believed he was suffering a heart attack. The scare forced him to take a hard look at his health habits and prompted a series of medical checks that ultimately revealed the episode was linked to dehydration and elevated blood pressure rather than a cardiac problem. Menzies secured his second ProTour title of the year with an 8‑4 victory over Dutch contender Gian van Veen in the final held in Den Bosch, Netherlands. The win added a fourth PDC ranking title to his résumé for the 2026 season and marked the culmination of a remarkable run that saw him win seven matches in a row.
After the triumph, the 37‑year‑old Scot reflected on the health scare that had forced him to withdraw from a Blackpool tournament earlier in the year when he fell ill during a second‑round match against Ross Smith. "Even before the incident, you could see I had dropped a bit of weight," Menzies said. "Last year, on my way to Switzerland, I was convinced I was having a heart attack on the plane. My family has a history of heart issues, so I immediately booked scans to rule anything serious out." The scans showed no cardiac abnormality, but doctors did advise him to lose weight and monitor his blood pressure.
After the Blackpool episode, further tests suggested dehydration was the primary cause of his sudden rise in blood pressure. "I was panicking, and my blood pressure spiked," he explained. "I've never experienced anything like that before." Menzies spent ten hours at Glasgow's Jubilee Hospital for a battery of blood tests aimed at detecting any hidden heart conditions. Apart from a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, all results came back normal.
The medical team concluded that the Blackpool incident was most likely the result of dehydration combined with the stress of competition. "I need to take better care of myself now," Menzies admitted. "I’m drinking more water and adding electrolytes to my routine, but I also understand that not everyone on the circuit lives like a professional athlete.
The days are long – I was on the floor from 9:30 a.m. onward – and as I get older, I have to be smarter about recovery and nutrition." He noted a shift in his dietary habits, swapping out late‑night pizza for a more balanced breakfast of porridge. "I used to grab a pizza after a match, but I’m trying to be more disciplined," he said. "A lot of the younger players are already focusing on fitness, jogging, and walking.
Darts today is a lot fitter than it was when we played in clubs and pubs. Many of the new talents are coming through youth academies and are essentially athletes." Menzies' form at the Players Championship was nothing short of spectacular. He opened the tournament with a 101+ average in a win over Nick Kenny, then survived a tense last‑leg decider against Canada’s Jim Long.
After a 6‑4 victory 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, and in the semi‑finals he edged Kevin Doets 7‑5 to set up the final against van Veen. The final began with a blistering 5‑0 lead for Menzies, during which he denied van Veen any chance at a double. Van Veen rallied with three straight legs, but Menzies kept his composure, taking three of the next four legs to clinch the match and the £15,000 prize.
"I’m grateful to be here and I don’t take any of this for granted," Menzies said after the win. "I’d love 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." Looking ahead, the PDC ProTour schedule continues with Players Championship 30 on Wednesday, as the race to qualify for the 2026 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals tightens. The upcoming major events – 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) – will all be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming available via NOW without a contract. Menzies’ story serves as a reminder that even elite darts players must prioritize health and wellness.
While his recent scare was ultimately linked to dehydration, it sparked a broader conversation about nutrition, hydration, and lifestyle choices in a sport that is increasingly demanding both mentally and physically. As the young, fitness‑focused generation continues to rise, veterans like Menzies are adapting their routines, proving that success on the oche can go hand‑in‑hand with a balanced, health‑conscious approach to life.