Cameron Menzies, the 2026 Players Championship 29 champion, recently opened up about a frightening health scare that occurred while he was travelling to a tournament in Switzerland. The Scottish darts professional says he genuinely believed he was suffering a heart attack on an aircraft, an experience that forced him to re‑evaluate his lifestyle and fitness habits. Menzies secured his second ProTour title of the year with an 8‑4 victory over Dutchman Gian van Veen in the final held in Den Bosch, Netherlands. The win marked his fourth PDC ranking title overall and came after a remarkable run of seven consecutive match wins.
Yet, amid the celebrations, the Scot reflected on a medical episode that had interrupted his schedule earlier in the season. During a second‑round match against Ross Smith at the Blackpool Players Championship, Menzies felt unwell and was compelled to withdraw. "Even before that incident, you could see I had lost a bit of weight," he explained.
"Last year, when I was flying to Switzerland, I was convinced I was having a heart attack on the plane. Heart problems run in my family, so I went for scans straight away." The scans revealed no cardiac abnormality, but doctors advised him that his weight and overall conditioning needed attention. After the Blackpool incident, further tests suggested dehydration as the likely trigger. "My blood pressure spiked because I panicked," Menzies said.
"I’d never experienced anything like that before." He spent ten hours at Glasgow's Jubilee Hospital undergoing blood work and cardiovascular checks. Apart from a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, all results came back normal.
The medical team concluded that the Blackpool episode was most likely caused by dehydration combined with the stress of competition. Menzies admitted that the episode was a wake‑up call. "I need to look after myself more, especially as I get older," he said. He described his current routine, noting that he now starts the day with a bowl of porridge and avoids the quick‑fix of a pizza that he might have grabbed previously.
"I’ll be drinking water and electrolytes now and then, but we’re not all full‑time athletes," he added, acknowledging the long hours and demanding travel schedule that come with the professional darts circuit. The Scottish player also commented on the evolving fitness levels of modern darts competitors.
"A lot of players now jog or walk regularly. The sport is probably healthier than ever because a new generation of youngsters is coming through in youth academies, and they’re fit athletes," he observed.
"When we grew up, we were playing in clubs and pubs, not in a structured fitness environment." Menzes’s form at the tournament was nothing short of stellar. He began with a 101+ average in a 6‑4 opening win over Nick Kenny, then survived a dramatic last‑leg decider against Canada’s Jim Long. After dispatching Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer 6‑4, he defeated top seed Wessel Nijman by the same scoreline, followed by a 6‑3 triumph over Jeffrey de Graaf to reach the semi‑finals. In the semi, he edged Kevin Doets, securing his place in a third Players Championship final in just five events.
The final against Van Veen saw Menzies explode into a 5‑0 lead, denying his opponent a dart at double in the opening burst. Van Veen rallied with three consecutive legs, but the Scot held his nerve, taking three of the next four legs to close the match 8‑4 and claim the £15,000 top prize.
After the win, Menzies expressed gratitude and ambition. "I’m grateful to be here and I don’t take it for granted. I’d like to finish the year on a high.
I’m already qualified for the World Championship and possibly the Grand Slam, so I’m in a very fortunate position," he said. Looking ahead, the PDC ProTour continues with Players Championship 30 on Wednesday, as players race to secure spots for the 2026 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals.
The calendar also includes 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), all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and streamed via NOW without a contract. Menzies’s story underscores the importance of health monitoring for professional darts players, a sport that demands both mental stamina and physical endurance.
His willingness to adapt his diet, hydrate properly, and incorporate fitness routines reflects a broader trend within the sport toward greater professionalism and athlete welfare. As the season progresses, fans will be watching to see whether his renewed focus on wellbeing translates into further titles and deeper runs in the major championships.