Darts star Matt Clark has revealed that he received a dire warning to ‘rest or risk death’ after being hospitalized due to a life-threatening blood clot. The 57-year-old player from Dartford was forced to withdraw from the World Seniors Tour as doctors cautioned 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 later from 2019 to 2022, Clark’s most notable performance at the World Championships was reaching the last 32 in 2006 before being eliminated by Phil Taylor. Subsequently losing his Tour Card, he transitioned to the WDF circuit.
Speaking about his harrowing health scare, Clark shared, “During the seniors tour, I experienced a life-threatening blood clot in a very uncomfortable location.” He recounted the moment a doctor warned him, stating, “If that clot moves, it could be fatal.”
Clark detailed his health struggles during an appearance on the Tungsten Tales podcast, mentioning, “I was undergoing hospital treatment during the TV events I qualified for on the seniors tour.” Despite facing health challenges, he kept his condition private and continued to compete.
After being discharged from the hospital in February this year, Clark resumed playing darts with lingering health issues, including back problems. Despite his setbacks, he remains determined, stating, “My back brace is helping, and I am managing the issues over time.”
In a remarkable comeback, Clark is now seeded No. 7 at the WDF World Championship and is set to compete against Francois Schweyen from Belgium in the last 16. His achievements include winning the 1999 Canadian Open and reaching the quarter-finals of the 2008 World Matchplay tournament.
Clark’s impressive career also includes a notable match at the World Matchplay, where he was defeated 16-12 by James Wade, who went on to reach the final but was ultimately defeated by ‘The Power’.
The PDC World Darts Championship is scheduled to commence on December 11, with fans able to watch every match live exclusively on Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.