Cameron Menzies has secured his second Players Championship title of 2026, marking a career-best year for the Scottish darts star. He defeated world number three Gian van Veen in a thrilling final, capping off a day of exceptional performances. Van Veen, despite falling short, also showcased incredible form, reaching his first Players Championship final of the year. The tournament also featured two perfect nine-dart finishes and saw several top seeds exit early, setting the stage for an unpredictable season.
Cameron Menzies’ Dominant Path to Victory
Menzies, already making waves in 2026 with a European Tour semi-final and a Players Championship 23 win, further cemented his status by claiming his fourth career PDC title. This victory marks the first time he has won two PDC ranking events in a single calendar year.
His campaign began with a commanding 6-2 win over Nick Kenny, boasting a 101.34 average. He faced a scare against Jim Long, nearly squandering a 5-2 lead before clinching a last-leg decider. Menzies then navigated past Benjamin Pratnemer (6-4) and top seed Wessel Nijman (6-4), denying Nijman a record seventh Players Championship title of 2026.
In the later stages, Menzies continued his strong form:
- Quarter-finals: A solid 6-3 victory against Jeffrey de Graaf.
- Semi-finals: An intense 7-5 battle against the in-form Kevin Doets.
The Grand Final: Menzies vs. Van Veen
Facing world number three Gian van Veen in the final, Menzies displayed incredible confidence, surging to an early 5-0 lead without allowing Van Veen a single dart at double. While Van Veen fought back to 5-3, Menzies regained control, claiming three of the next four legs to seal an 8-4 triumph.
Menzies Reflects on His Success
After his win, Menzies shared his perspective:
“I just wanted to win a game today. To go and win another ProTour is awesome, I’m so happy… I think this is my fifth year on the tour and I’ve won four ProTours. That’s not bad I suppose!”
He added, “My aim is to make a good life for myself… but winning a major and having a good run at the World Championship would be amazing. I’ve put more effort in this year than I ever have because I nearly lost it all and I’m grateful to be in this position.“
Gian van Veen’s Stellar Runner-Up Performance
Despite the final loss, Gian van Veen had a day to remember, reaching his first Players Championship final of the year after 18 attempts. His journey was marked by clinical finishing and high averages:
- Started strong with a 6-1 win over Tommy Morris and a 6-2 victory over Daniel Klose.
- Achieved his best average of the day (104.78) in a 6-4 win against Darius Labanauskas.
- Survived a thrilling encounter against Nathan Aspinall, who averaged 104.18. Van Veen, trailing 5-3, produced legs of 15, 13, and 14 darts to snatch a narrow victory.
- Overcame Chris Dobey in another last-leg decider, hitting three 100+ finishes, including a match-winning Shanghai 120 checkout.
- Defeated William O’Connor 7-5 in the semi-finals with 50% on doubles.
Other Notable Performances and Tournament Highlights
- William O’Connor: The Irish number one showed impressive consistency, reaching the semi-finals with 6-4 victories over 16-year-old Archie Self and Cor Dekker.
- Kevin Doets: Reached his seventh Players Championship semi-final of the year, recording averages of 113.90 and 104.63 in earlier wins.
- Chris Dobey: Started mesmerisingly, logging 100+ averages in all five of his matches and conceding only one leg in his first three victories.
- Nine-Darters: Two perfect legs were thrown!
- Cristo Reyes achieved a nine-darter in his opening-round rout of Ian White.
- Max Hopp also hit perfection in his round two triumph over Tom Bissell.
- Early Exits: The tournament saw several seeded players depart early, including three-time World Champion Michael Van Gerwen and second seed Luke Woodhouse, both eliminated in the opening round. Krzysztof Ratajski and Martin Schindler also fell early.
Looking Ahead: Players Championship 30
The PDC Pro Tour continues in Den Bosch for the second day of a double-header. With the race to qualify for the 2026 PDC Players Championship Finals intensifying, Tuesday’s action suggests anything could happen at Players Championship 30!
Tournament Results Overview (Players Championship 29):
Last 16:
- Cameron Menzies 6-4 Wessel Nijman
- Jeffrey de Graaf 6-4 Danny Noppert
- Kevin Doets 6-5 Cristo Reyes
- Jermaine Wattimena 6-3 Callan Rydz
- Oskar Lukasiak 6-4 Dave Chisnall
- William O’Connor 6-4 Cor Dekker
- Chris Dobey 6-3 Josh Rock
- Gian van Veen 6-5 Nathan Aspinall
Quarter-Finals:
- Cameron Menzies 6-3 Jeffrey de Graaf
- Kevin Doets 6-2 Jermaine Wattimena
- William O’Connor 6-3 Oskar Lukasiak
- Gian van Veen 6-5 Chris Dobey
Semi-Finals:
- Cameron Menzies 7-5 Kevin Doets
- Gian van Veen 7-5 William O’Connor
Final:
- Cameron Menzies 8-4 Gian van Veen
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
