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 suffering a heart attack. The scare prompted him to reassess his lifestyle and health habits, especially given a family history of cardiac problems.
Menzes secured his second ProTour title of the 2026 season on Tuesday, beating Gian van Veen 8-4 in the final at Maassport Den Bosch. The Scottish player has been in scintillating form, adding a fourth PDC ranking title to his résumé after a run of seven consecutive victories. After lifting the trophy, Menzies reflected on the medical incident that forced him to withdraw from a tournament in Blackpool.
During his second‑round match against Ross Smith, he became ill and had to abandon the contest. "Even before that happened you could see I had lost a bit of weight," he said. "Last year, on a flight to Switzerland, I was convinced I was having a heart attack.
I went for scans because heart disease runs in my family." The scans revealed that his weight was a contributing factor, but the Blackpool episode was later attributed to severe dehydration, which caused his blood pressure to spike as panic set in. "I’ve never experienced anything like that before," Menzies added. He went through a battery of blood tests at Glasgow Jubilee Hospital, spending ten hours there. Apart from a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, everything else returned normal.
"They think the Blackpool incident was dehydration, so I just need to look after myself more," he explained. "I’ll start drinking water and electrolytes, but we’re not all professional athletes. These are long days; you have to take care of yourself.
I’m getting older, so I need to be smarter about my health." Menzies described his current dietary choices, noting that his breakfast on the day of the interview was simple porridge rather than a heavier meal like pizza, which he would have normally chosen. He emphasized the importance of staying hydrated and eating sensibly, especially during the grueling PDC schedule that often sees players on the road from early morning until late at night.
He also commented on the evolution of darts as a sport. "A lot of players now jog or walk as part of their routine. Darts is probably healthier than ever because a new generation of young, fit athletes is coming through.
It’s not like when we grew up playing in clubs and pubs. These kids are in structured youth systems and they’re catching up quickly," he said.
Menzies’ performance in the tournament was impressive. He opened with a 101+ average against Nick Kenny, then survived a tense last‑leg decider against Canada’s Jim Long. He continued his march by beating Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer 6-4 and top seed Wessel Nijman by the same margin.
In the quarter‑finals he dispatched Jeffrey de Graaf 6-3, and in the semi‑finals he overcame Kevin Doets to secure his place in the final for the third time in his last five events. The final saw him take an early 5-0 lead against Van Veen, missing a double that could have ended the match even sooner.
Van Veen rallied with three straight legs, but Menzies held his composure, 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.
I’d like to finish the year on a high. I’m already in the World Championship and possibly the Grand Slam, so I’m in a very fortunate position," Menzies said after the win. Looking ahead, the PDC ProTour continues with Players Championship 30 on Wednesday, as the race for the 2026 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals heats up.
The calendar also includes major televised 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), all of which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and streamed via NOW without a contract. Menzies’ story serves as a reminder that even elite competitors must monitor their health, stay hydrated, and maintain a balanced diet, especially when the competition schedule is as demanding as the PDC circuit. His willingness to adapt his lifestyle and his candidness about the scare have resonated with fans and fellow players alike, underscoring the importance of self‑care in high‑pressure sports environments.