Krzysztof Ratajski had the perfect warm up to the Betfred World Matchplay by claiming the 2026 European Darts Open.

The Polish Eagle, who’d last won a title in May 2025 on the Pro Tour, defeated Jermaine Wattimena of the Netherlands to win his third European Tour title, and his first since 2023.

Ratajski will now head into the summer’s biggest tournament full of confidence, as he faces World Darts Championship runner up Gian van Veen in round one.

Ratajski holds nerve for glory

Poland’s number one took the early advantage in the showpiece match of the weekend, racing into a 3-0 lead. Wattimena, playing to win his first European Tour event, fought back, winning five of the next six legs to take a 5-4 advantage with a break.

Both missed darts for leg 10, but Machine Gun eventually pinged double two to hold in 21 darts and extend his advantage. Ratajski held in leg 11, before crucially breaking in leg 12, capitalising on missed darts from Wattimena to level at 6-6.

That seemed to turn the tide in favour of the Polish player, as he hit back to back 15 darters to end a topsy turvy contest, in a match that featured 30 missed darts at a double between the pair.

Big names crash out in round three

Many of the big names left on the final day of the European Darts Open, the 10th European Tour event of the year, were sent packing during the afternoon session.

World number three van Veen lost to eventual winner Ratajski, while Damon Heta, fresh off qualifying for the World Matchplay in the midweek, dumped out Michael van Gerwen.

Perennial winner on the Pro Tour in 2026 Wessel Nijman, who was looking for his third Euro Tour victory of the season, lost out to Dirk van Duijvenbode, while Sebastian Bialecki helped his chances out of World Grand Prix qualification with a run to the semis, featuring wins over Kevin Doets and James Wade.

The next event in PDC darts is the prestigious World Matchplay, held at the historic Winter Gardens in Blackpool between Saturday 18 July – Sunday 26 July.

European Darts Open Final Day Results

Evening Session

Final

Krzysztof Ratajski 8-6 Jermaine Wattimena

Semi Finals

Jermaine Wattimena 7-3 Damon Heta

Krzysztof Ratajski 7-5 Sebastian Bialecki

Quarter Finals

Jermaine Wattimena 6-5 Luke Woodhouse

Damon Heta 6-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Sebastian Bialecki 6-2 James Wade

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 Nathan Aspinall

Afternoon Session

Round Three

Jermaine Wattimena 6-1 Ryan Joyce

Luke Woodhouse 6-5 Jonny Clayton

Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3 Wessel Nijman

Damon Heta 6-4 Michael van Gerwen

Sebastian Bialecki 6-4 Kevin Doets

James Wade 6-2 Jan Schmidt

Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Ross Smith

Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Gian van Veen