Cameron Menzies, the 2026 Players Championship 29 champion, recently disclosed that he once feared a heart attack while on a flight to Switzerland, an episode that forced him to reevaluate his health habits. The Scottish darts professional secured his second ProTour title of the year by defeating Gian van Veen 8‑4 in the final, adding a fourth PDC ranking trophy to his résumé after a remarkable run of seven straight victories at Maassport Den Bosch.
The victory came just days after Menzies reflected on a medical scare that occurred in Blackpool. During his second‑round match against Ross Smith, he became ill and was forced to withdraw from the tournament. "Even before the incident, you could see I had lost a bit of weight," Menzies said. "Last year, on a flight to Switzerland, I was convinced I was having a heart attack.
Because heart problems run in my family, I went for a full set of scans." The tests revealed no cardiac disease, but doctors warned him that his weight needed to be reduced. When the Blackpool episode was later examined, physicians concluded that severe dehydration had driven his blood pressure up, causing the panic attack‑like symptoms. "I’d never experienced anything like that before," he added. Menzies spent ten hours at Glasgow's Jubilee Hospital for comprehensive blood work and cardiac monitoring.
Apart from a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, all results were normal. The medical team attributed the Blackpool collapse to dehydration and advised him to pay closer attention to his hydration and overall lifestyle. "I’m going to start drinking more water and taking electrolytes," Menzies explained, acknowledging that not every darts player can treat the sport as a full‑time athletic career.
"These are long days – I was at the venue from 9:30 in the morning and stayed there for hours. As I get older, I realise I have to look after myself more." He admitted that his breakfast that day was simply porridge and that he had skipped lunch, a habit he would normally replace with a pizza. "I need to be smarter about my nutrition now," he said.
"A lot of players are now jogging, walking, and doing fitness work. Darts has become a much more athletic game because a new generation of young, fit competitors is coming through the ranks. It’s not the pub‑league environment we grew up in.
These kids are in youth academies, training like professional athletes." Menzies’ form at the tournament was nothing short of spectacular. He opened with a 101+ average against Nick Kenny, then survived a tense last‑leg decider against Canada’s Jim Long.
After dispatching Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer 6‑4, he beat top seed Wessel Nijman by the same margin. A further 6‑3 win over Jeffrey de Graaf secured his place in the semi‑finals, where he overcame Kevin Doets to reach his third Players Championship final in just five events. In the final, Menzies surged to a 5‑0 lead, denying Van Veen any chance at a double in the opening burst. The Dutchman fought back with three consecutive legs, but the Scot kept his composure, taking three of the next four legs to clinch the match 8‑4 and pocket the £15,000 winner’s share.
"I’m grateful to be in this position and I don’t take it for granted," Menzies said after the match. "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 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 intensifies.
The event’s full draw saw Menzies beat Wessel Nijman, Jeffrey de Graaf, Danny Noppert, Kevin Doets, Cristo Reyes, Jermaine Wattimena, Callan Rydz, Oskar Lukasiak, Dave Chisnall, William O’Connor, Cor Dekker, Chris Dobey, Josh Rock, and finally Gian van Veen. Notable moments from the tournament included a nine‑dart finish from Cristo Reyes in his first‑round win over Ian White, and another perfect leg from Max Hopp in round two against Tom Bissell. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast darts throughout the season, with the World Grand Prix (28 September‑4 October), Grand Slam of Darts (14‑22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December‑3 January) all set for live coverage. Fans can also stream matches via NOW without a contract.
Menzies’ candid discussion of his health scare serves as a reminder that even elite darts players must monitor their wellbeing. By adopting better hydration habits, adjusting his diet, and incorporating fitness routines, he hopes to avoid future incidents and maintain his competitive edge as the sport evolves into a more physically demanding discipline.