Darts professional Matt Clark has shared that he received a serious warning to prioritize rest over risking his life after being hospitalized due to a dangerous blood clot. The 57-year-old player, hailing from Dartford, had to step away from the World Seniors Tour upon medical advice that his life was in jeopardy unless he made significant changes to his daily routine.
Clark, who held a PDC Tour Card from 2003 to 2017, and then again from 2019 to 2022, reached the last 32 of the World Championships in 2006 before being stopped by Phil Taylor. After losing his Tour Card, he transitioned to the WDF.
Speaking about his frightening health scare, Clark disclosed, “During the seniors tour, I developed 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 further explained, “I was warned not to work. If the situation wasn’t controlled, the consequences could be a brain hemorrhage or a heart attack.”
Clark detailed his experience during a podcast appearance on Tungsten Tales, mentioning, “I was undergoing hospital treatment for the TV events I qualified for on the seniors tour. I didn’t reveal this because I didn’t want to make excuses; it was passed off as a leg issue at the time.”
He added, “At the start of the WDF season, I was following hospital instructions and was restricted from traveling or flying. I only resumed playing after being discharged from the hospital in February this year. I still have ongoing health issues, but they are gradually improving. Unfortunately, now I have back problems, but I am managing with a back brace.”
Despite his health challenges, Clark has made a remarkable comeback to the WDF World Championship as the No. 7 seed and is set to compete against Belgium’s Francois Schweyen in the last 16.
Clark’s notable achievements 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. He was defeated 16-12 by James Wade, who later made it to the final but lost to ‘The Power’ in the prestigious Blackpool event.
The PDC World Darts Championship is scheduled to kick off on December 11, and fans can catch all the matches live exclusively on Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.