Ratajski ends a seven-match first-round losing streak to seal his first ranking title since 2023 ““In the back of my head, I knew I had a chance to get to the World Matchplay”
Ratajski ends a seven-match first-round losing streak to seal his first ranking title since 2023 ““In the back of my head, I knew I had a chance to get to the World Matchplay”
In Monday’s Players Championship 15, Krzysztof Ratajski pulled off an incredible reversal to win his first PDC ranking title since September 2023.
Ratajski won the £15,000 top prize in Hildesheim by defeating Dave Chisnall 8–4, securing his spot in the preliminary qualifying round for the Betfred World Matchplay in July.
Before Monday’s action, the 48-year-old had shockingly lost seven straight PDC ProTour first-round bouts, but he put an end to that run in spectacular fashion at Halle 39.
With legs of 15, 14, and 15 darts, followed by a 123 checkout to lead 4-1, Ratajski dominated Chisnall with four consecutive legs.
With back-to-back legs of his own, Chisnall cut the deficit to 4-3, but Ratajski sealed the win with an incredible 86 finish on the bull after preserving his lead with a pair of 13-darters.
“I really enjoyed that. I’m so happy,” reflected Ratajski, who averaged 101.73 to celebrate his eighth Players Championship title.
“In the back of my head, I knew I had a chance to get to the World Matchplay, and this is a very big first step towards that!
“The last few years have been a difficult time for me. I’ve had health problems and other problems, and my results have not been good.
“I had lost seven matches in a row before today, but that is darts.
“I was 3-0 down in my first match, I was 4-1 down in the third round so it was a difficult tournament for me, but I’m very happy I did it.”
Ratajski appeared to be headed for his eighth straight loss on the ProTour after falling behind Dylan Slevin 3-0, but Poland’s top player ended his losing streak with a six-leg comeback.
Ratajski defeated Jim Long in the second round, then rallied from a 4-1 deficit to defeat Jamai van den Herik in a final, before averaging 102.48 in a decisive victory over Carl Sneyd.
Later, Ratajski prevailed 7–4 over Scott Williams in the final four, surviving a match dart and defeating Ross Smith’s 102 average to win a thrilling quarterfinal.
On his way to Monday’s main event, Chisnall recorded four ton-plus averages, including a 108.16 in his second-round thumping of Darius Labanauskas.
Midway through his match against the Lithuanian, the St Helens hero also reached perfection. He then averaged 101, 100, and 104 to defeat Mike De Decker, Joe Cullen, and William Borland, respectively.
But in his semi-final victory over Danny Noppert, who defeated Michael Smith, Callan Rydz, and Gian van Veen to go to the last four, Chisnall had to survive two match darts.
Scott Williams, who advanced to his second ranking semi-final of the season with three ton-plus averages, joined the former UK Open champion in the semi-finals.
Two flawless legs were hit in Hildesheim on Monday, including Chisnall’s nine-darter. Luke Woodhouse also displayed some magic in his second-round matchup with Martijn Dragt.
In other news, Michael van Gerwen, the only Premier League player competing this week, lost to an outstanding Dominik Gruellich in the first round for the fifth time in six ProTour events.
Despite recording ton-plus averages earlier in the afternoon, Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade left in round two, and Peter Wright crashed out to Jim Williams at the same time.
Ratajski ends a seven-match first-round losing streak to seal his first ranking title since 2023
2025 Players Championship 15
Monday May 12
Halle 39, Hildesheim
Last 16
Dom Taylor 6-1 Jermaine Wattimena
Scott Williams 6-4 Gary Anderson
Ross Smith 6-2 Ryan Joyce
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-0 Carl Sneyd
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Joe Cullen
Mike De Decker 6-1 Jeffrey de Graaf
Danny Noppert 6-5 Callan Rydz
Gian van Veen 6-0 Niels Zonneveld
Quarter-Finals
Scott Williams 6-3 Dom Taylor
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Ross Smith
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Mike De Decker
Danny Noppert 6-1 Gian van Veen
Semi-Finals
Krzysztof Ratajski 7-4 Scott Williams
Dave Chisnall 7-6 Danny Noppert
Final
Krzysztof Ratajski 8-4 Dave Chisnall
Nine-Darters!
Luke Woodhouse hit a nine-darter in his second round tie against Martijn Dragt.
Dave Chisnall hit a nine-darter in his second round tie against Darius Labanauskas.
