Darts professional Matt Clark has shared that he received a warning of ‘rest or die’ after being hospitalized due to a serious blood clot. The 57-year-old player from Dartford was forced to step away from the World Seniors Tour as medical professionals cautioned that his life was at risk unless he made significant changes to his daily routines.
Clark, who held a PDC Tour Card from 2003 to 2017 and again from 2019 to 2022, achieved his best World Championships performance by 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.
In a conversation 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, ‘If you move at all, you’re in grave danger,’ it really makes you rethink your life.”
He continued, “They emphasized that I couldn’t work. If the situation wasn’t controlled, I was at risk of a brain hemorrhage or a heart attack. It was that serious.”
Clark detailed his experience on the Tungsten Tales podcast, mentioning, “I was undergoing hospital treatment during the TV events I qualified for on the seniors tour. I kept it quiet because I didn’t want to use it as an excuse. It was attributed to a leg issue at the time.”
“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 challenges to manage, including a back problem, but I’m coping with it. Fortunately, my back brace is proving effective.”
Despite his health setbacks, Clark has made a comeback at the WDF World Championship as the 7th seed and is set to compete against Francois Schweyen from Belgium in the last 16.
Notably, Clark secured victory at the 1999 Canadian Open and made it to the quarter-finals of the 2008 World Matchplay, marking his most notable performance at a PDC major event.
In a memorable match, ‘Superman’ was defeated 16-12 by James Wade, who went on to reach the final before being defeated by ‘The Power’ at the prestigious Blackpool event.
The PDC World Darts Championship is scheduled to kick off on December 11, with fans having the opportunity to watch each match live exclusively through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.