Darts veteran Matt Clark has revealed 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 from Dartford was forced to step back from the World Seniors Tour upon medical advice that his survival depended on changing his daily routines.
Having held a PDC Tour Card from 2003 to 2017 and again from 2019 to 2022, Clark achieved his best performance in the World Championships in 2006, advancing to the last 32 before being defeated by Phil Taylor, which led to him transitioning to the WDF after losing his Tour Card.
Opening up about his frightening health crisis, Clark shared, “During the seniors tour, I suffered a life-threatening blood clot in a critical area. Hearing from a doctor that any movement could be fatal definitely shifted my perspective on life.”
He continued, “Doctors emphasized that I couldn’t work and that if the situation wasn’t contained, the consequences could be severe, potentially resulting in a brain haemorrhage or heart attack.”
Clark detailed his experience on the Tungsten Tales podcast, mentioning, “While I was qualifying for TV events on the seniors tour, I was undergoing hospital treatments but kept it discreet, attributing it to a leg issue at the time.”
Due to his health condition, Clark had to follow hospital instructions and was restricted from traveling or flying at the start of the WDF season. Only after being discharged in February this year did he resume playing, although he still faces ongoing challenges related to his health.
Despite his setbacks, 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 round.
Noteworthy achievements in Clark’s career include winning the 1999 Canadian Open and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2008 World Matchplay, marking his standout performance at a PDC major tournament.
In a memorable match, Clark was defeated 16-12 by James Wade, who went on to the final but was ultimately beaten by ‘The Power’ in the Blackpool showdown.
The PDC World Darts Championship is scheduled to commence on December 11, with fans having the exclusive opportunity to watch every match live through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.