Darts star Matt Clark has revealed that he received a stark warning to ‘rest or face death’ after being hospitalized with a serious blood clot. The 57-year-old player from Dartford was forced to withdraw from the World Seniors Tour when doctors cautioned him that his life was in jeopardy unless he made significant changes to his daily routine.
Having held a PDC Tour Card from 2003 to 2017 and again from 2019 to 2022, Clark’s most notable performance at the World Championships was reaching the last 32 in 2006 before being stopped by Phil Taylor. Following the loss of his Tour Card, he transitioned to the WDF circuit.
Reflecting on his harrowing health scare, Clark shared, “During the seniors tour, I experienced a life-threatening blood clot in a very sensitive area. When a doctor tells you that any movement could be fatal, it truly alters your perspective on life.”
He added, “I was advised not to work, as the situation could lead to a brain hemorrhage or heart attack if not controlled.”
Clark detailed his ordeal during an interview on the Tungsten Tales podcast, mentioning, “I was undergoing hospital treatment while qualifying for TV events on the seniors tour. I kept it private as I didn’t want to use it as an excuse for poor performance. I was dealing with health issues at the start of the WDF season and had restrictions on travel until February this year when I was discharged from the hospital.”
Despite ongoing health challenges, Clark has persevered and is set to compete as the No. 7 seed at the WDF World Championship, where he will go up against Francois Schweyen from Belgium in the round of 16.
Noteworthy achievements in Clark’s career include winning the 1999 Canadian Open and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2008 World Matchplay, marking his best performance at a PDC major tournament. In a memorable match, he was defeated 16-12 by James Wade, who later made it to the final before losing to ‘The Power’ in the Blackpool showdown.
The PDC World Darts Championship is scheduled to kick off on December 11, with fans having the opportunity to watch every match live exclusively through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.