Krzysztof Ratajski

Krzysztof Ratajski
Ratajski in 2019
Personal information
Nickname	"The Polish Eagle"
Born	(1977-01-01) 1 January 1977 Skarżysko-Kamienna, Poland
Home town	Warsaw, Poland
Darts information
Playing darts since	1997
Darts	22g Bull's
Laterality	Right-handed
Walk-on music	"Whatever You Want" by Status Quo and "Zawsze do celu" by Najlepszy Przekaz w Mieście
Organisation (see split in darts)
BDO	2007–2017
PDC	2018– (Tour Card: 2019-)
WDF	2007–2017
Current world ranking	25 (21 April 2024)
WDF major events – best performances
World Ch'ship	Last 16: 2017
World Masters	Winner (1): 2017
World Trophy	Last 32: 2016
PDC premier events – best performances
World Ch'ship	Quarter-final: 2021
World Matchplay	Semi-final: 2021
World Grand Prix	Quarter-final: 2021
UK Open	Quarter-final: 2021
Grand Slam	Last 16: 2018, 2023
European Ch'ship	Last 16: 2023
PC Finals	Last 16: 2018
Masters	Last 16: 2022, 2024
World Series Finals	Semi-final: 2021
Other tournament wins
Czech Open 2009 Denmark Open 2008 Hungarian Classic 2016 Latvia Open 2010 Polish Open 2017 Polish Ch'ship 2009, 2016, 2019 PDC Challenge Tour 2018 PDC European Tour Eastern European Qualifier 2017 (x11), 2018 (x7) European Tour Events German Darts Open 2023 Gibraltar Darts Trophy 2019 Players Championships Players Championship (BAR) 2018 (x2), 2021 Players Championship (HIL) 2019 Players Championship (WIG) 2019, 2020, 2023 UK Open Qualifiers UK Open Qualifier 2018
Other achievements
2023 Breaking the world record for match average for pairs competition in 2023 PDC World Cup of Darts.
Medal record Men's Darts Representing Poland EDF European Ch'ship 2017 Podčetrtek Men's cricket 2019 Podčetrtek Men's cricket 2018 Podčetrtek Men's cricket EDU European Ch'ship 2003 Salou Men's cricket 2008 Caorle Men's singles 2002 St. Johann Men's singles 2002 St. Johann Men's cricket 2005 Sopron Men's cricket 2006 Umag Men's singles 2004 Hamburg Men's singles SDWF European Ch'ship 2005 Lloret de Mar Men's singles

Krzysztof Ratajski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈkʐɨʂtɔf raˈtajski]; born 1 January 1977) is a Polish professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. His biggest achievement to date was winning the 2017 World Masters. Ratajski also plays on the Professional Darts Corporation's ProTour and has represented Poland at the PDC World Cup of Darts on numerous occasions. He is the most successful darts player to come from Poland. Together with Krzysztof Kciuk, he is the world record holder in pairs match average.

Career

Ratajski's first major run came in the 2007 Czech Open where he reached the semi-finals. He gained notable wins over Joey ten Berge and local player Marek Polak, eventually losing to Patrick Loos who won the tournament. He then went on to win the 2008 Denmark Open, a tournament previously won by the likes of John Lowe, Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld. He defeated Hungary's Nándor Bezzeg, Finland's Marko Kantele and Belgian Geert De Vos en route to the final where he beat Fabian Roosenbrand.

On 4 December 2008 Ratajski qualified for the 2009 BDO World Darts Championship, earning one of five spots available. He earned notable wins over former qualifier Ian Jones and Mike Veitch before beating Robbie Green to qualify, becoming the first Polish player to qualify for either world championship. The next day, Ratajski took part in the 2008 Winmau World Masters, but lost in the very first round to Denmark's Stig Jorgensen. Ratajski then lost in the first round of the 2009 World Championship to Edwin Max.

Ratajski represented Poland in the inaugural PDC World Cup of darts in partnership with Krzysztof Kciuk. They lost 2–6 in the first round to New Zealand, who were represented by Phillip Hazel and Warren Parry. He did not feature in the tournament again until 2013, once more with Kciuk, and they progressed to the last 16 by finishing second in Group E thanks to beating Gibraltar 5–2. They played the host nation Germany, who were represented by Jyhan Artut and Andree Welge, and were defeated 5–2.

He lost in the semi-finals of the 2015 Polish Open 5–2 to Scott Waites. Ratajski made his European Tour debut at the 2015 European Darts Trophy and was edged out 6–5 by Adam Hunt in the first round. He was knocked out 3–2 by Martin Adams in the last 16 of the World Masters.

Ratajski played in the BDO World Trophy for the first time in 2016 and lost 6–4 to Scott Waites. He teamed up with Mariusz Paul at the 2016 PDC World Cup of Darts and they were defeated 5–1 by Belgium in the opening round. He qualified for the International Darts Open and was eliminated 6–1 by Chris Dobey in the first round.

Ratajski qualified for the 2017 BDO World Darts Championship. He earned his first two wins at the event, including a 3–0 victory over Wesley Harms, before narrowly losing to Darius Labanauskas in the last 16. At the 2017 World Cup, Ratajski and Tytus Kanik lost 5–3 in the first round to the Irish team of Mick McGowan and William O'Connor.

At the 2017 World Masters, Ratajski was unseeded and had to start from the first round. He defeated two-time reigning champion Glen Durrant in the quarter-finals, Scotland's Cameron Menzies in the semi-final, and world number one Mark McGeeney 6–1 in the final for his first televised major title. In doing so, Ratajski also guaranteed qualification for the 2018 BDO World Darts Championship, but declined his invitation in favour of an attempt to qualify for the rival 2018 PDC World Darts Championship. He qualified for the latter as the top ranked Eastern European on the PDC Pro Tour.

Ratajski competed in his first PDC premier event as a singles player at the 2017 European Championship. He lost 3–6 to Peter Wright in the first round. In the 2018 World Championship Ratajski lost 1–3 to James Wilson despite winning the first set.

2018

In January, Ratajski entered Q-School, but failed to gain a tour card. Ratajski played on the 2018 Challenge Tour. Ratajski made the final at event 8 and won event 14. Due to these successes, he was able to play some Players Championship events towards the end of 2018.

In February Ratajski became the first Polish player to win a PDC event, defeating Daryl Gurney 6–4 in the final of the sixth UK Open qualifier.

Ratajski won a Players Championship event on 20 October 2018, defeating Chris Dobey 6–2 in the final of Players Championship 21, despite not having a tour card. Ratajski also won Players Championship 22 the following day, joining an elite club of only 8 PDC players to win two Players Championship titles in a single weekend by beating Adrian Lewis 6–4. His weekend “double header” win secured him a place at the 2019 PDC World Darts Championship, where he lost to Seigo Asada. Ratajski also made the 2018 Players Championship Finals, where he beat Gerwyn Price and Adrian Lewis before losing to Danny Noppert, and the 2018 Grand Slam of Darts, where he was drawn in Group B. He defeated Raymond van Barneveld and Adam Smith-Neale and losing to Michael Smith, which meant that he went through to the last 16 stage where he lost to Jonny Clayton. Ratajski reached the top 64 on the PDC Order of Merit, which earned him a tour card for 2019.

2023

Ratajski received a qualifier for the 2023 PDC World Cup of Darts and for the fifth-time he represented Poland together with Krzysztof Kciuk. On the first day of the tournament, the Poles defeated the Portuguese team (Jose de Sousa and Luis Ameixa) with some difficulty by 4–3 in legs. In the second match of the group stage, the Poles faced the Lithuanian national team (Darius Labanauskas and Mindaugas Barauskas). The Poles defeated their rivals by 4–1 in legs, achieving the world record match average (118.10) of doubles matches.

World Championship results

BDO

• 2009: First round (lost to Edwin Max 2–3)
• 2017: Second round (lost to Darius Labanauskas 3–4)

PDC

• 2018: First round (lost to James Wilson 1–3)
• 2019: First round (lost to Seigo Asada 2–3)
• 2020: Third round (lost to Nathan Aspinall 3–4)
• 2021: Quarter-finals (lost to Stephen Bunting 3–5)
• 2022: Second round (lost to Steve Lennon 1–3)
• 2023: Third round (lost to Dimitri Van den Bergh 1–4)
• 2024: Third round (lost to Jonny Clayton 2–4)

Performance timeline

PDC

Tournament	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
PDC World Championship	BDO								1R	1R	3R	QF	2R	3R	3R
UK Open	DNQ								5R	6R	4R	QF	4R	4R	5R
World Matchplay	Did not qualify									2R	QF	SF	2R	1R
World Grand Prix	Did not qualify									1R	1R	QF	2R	2R
European Championship	Did not qualify							1R	DNQ	1R	1R	1R	1R	2R
Grand Slam of Darts	Did not qualify								2R	DNQ	RR	RR	DNQ	2R
Players Championship Finals	Did not qualify								3R	2R	1R	2R	3R	1R
Non-major televised events
The Masters	Did not qualify											1R	2R	1R	2R
PDC World Cup of Darts	1R	NH	DNQ	2R	DNQ		1R	1R	1R	2R	2R	2R	2R	2R
World Series of Darts Finals	Not held					Did not qualify				QF	2R	SF	DNQ	2R
Career statistics
Year-end ranking	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	79	55	20	14	12	20	24

PDC European Tour

Season	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
2015	GDC DNP	GDT DNP	GDM DNP	DDM DNP	IDO DNP	EDO DNQ	EDT 1R	EDM DNQ	EDG DNP
2016	DDM DNP	GDM DNP	GDT DNQ	EDM DNQ	ADO DNP	EDO DNQ	IDO 1R	EDT DNQ	EDG DNQ	GDC DNQ
2017	GDC 2R	GDM 1R	GDO 2R	EDG 2R	GDT 2R	EDM 1R	ADO 1R	EDO 2R	DDM QF	GDG 2R	IDO DNQ	EDT 2R
2018	EDO DNQ	GDG 1R	GDO DNQ	ADO DNQ	EDG 1R	DDM 3R	GDT 1R	DDO 1R	EDM DNQ	GDC 2R	DDC DNQ	IDO DNQ	EDT 2R
2019	EDO 3R	GDC DNQ	GDG 2R	GDO DNQ	ADO DNQ	EDG 2R	DDM 2R	DDO 2R	CDO 1R	ADC DNQ	EDM QF	IDO 2R	GDT W
2020	BDC QF	GDC QF	EDG 2R	IDO QF
2021	HDT 2R	GDT QF
2022	IDO 2R	GDC 3R	GDG WD	ADO 3R	EDO 2R	CDO 2R	EDG 3R	DDC 2R	EDM 2R	HDT 2R	GDO QF	BDO DNQ	GDT DNQ
2023	BSD DNQ	EDO 2R	IDO DNQ	GDG DNP	ADO 2R	DDC 2R	BDO 1R	CDO DNQ	EDG QF	EDM DNQ	GDO W	HDT DNQ	GDC DNQ
2024	BDO 2R	GDG 2R	IDO 2R	EDG 2R	ADO	BSD	DDC	EDO	GDC	FDT	HDT	SDT	CDO

PDC Players Championship

Season	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
2018	BAR DNP	BAR DNP	BAR DNP	BAR DNP	MIL DNP	MIL DNP	BAR DNP	BAR DNP	WIG DNP	WIG DNP	MIL DNP	MIL DNP	WIG DNP	WIG DNP	BAR DNP	BAR DNP	BAR DNP	BAR DNP	DUB 1R	DUB 1R	BAR W	BAR W
2019	WIG 2R	WIG 4R	WIG 2R	WIG 1R	BAR 3R	BAR 4R	WIG 4R	WIG 2R	BAR 1R	BAR 2R	BAR 4R	BAR 4R	BAR 2R	BAR QF	BAR 4R	BAR 4R	WIG W	WIG SF	BAR 1R	BAR 4R	HIL W	HIL QF	BAR 3R	BAR 3R	BAR 2R	BAR 2R	DUB F	DUB 2R	BAR QF	BAR F
2020	BAR 1R	BAR 2R	WIG 4R	WIG W	WIG 3R	WIG SF	BAR QF	BAR DNP	MIL SF	MIL 3R	MIL 2R	MIL QF	MIL 3R	NIE QF	NIE 1R	NIE 1R	NIE 4R	NIE F	COV 3R	COV 1R	COV 1R	COV 2R	COV F
2021	BOL 4R	BOL 2R	BOL QF	BOL 2R	MIL 3R	MIL 1R	MIL 1R	MIL QF	NIE 1R	NIE 1R	NIE 4R	NIE 3R	MIL 1R	MIL 2R	MIL 3R	MIL 2R	COV 1R	COV 1R	COV 3R	COV 4R	BAR 4R	BAR 1R	BAR 1R	BAR QF	BAR 3R	BAR 3R	BAR 1R	BAR 4R	BAR QF	BAR W
2022	BAR QF	BAR 2R	WIG 1R	WIG SF	BAR 1R	BAR 1R	NIE 4R	NIE 4R	BAR 4R	BAR 1R	BAR 4R	BAR 1R	BAR 3R	WIG QF	WIG 1R	NIE QF	NIE 1R	BAR 1R	BAR 4R	BAR 3R	BAR 4R	BAR F	BAR 1R	BAR 2R	BAR 4R	BAR 1R	BAR 1R	BAR 2R	BAR 3R	BAR 2R
2023	BAR 1R	BAR 3R	BAR 3R	BAR 3R	BAR 3R	BAR 2R	HIL SF	HIL F	WIG W	WIG 2R	LEI 2R	LEI 1R	HIL 2R	HIL 2R	LEI 1R	LEI 1R	HIL 3R	HIL 1R	BAR 1R	BAR 2R	BAR 2R	BAR 3R	BAR 4R	BAR 1R	BAR 1R	BAR 2R	BAR 1R	BAR 2R	BAR 2R	BAR 3R
2024	WIG 2R	WIG 2R	LEI 1R	LEI 3R	HIL 3R	HIL 2R	LEI	LEI	HIL	HIL	HIL	HIL	MIL	MIL	MIL	MIL	MIL	MIL	MIL	WIG	WIG	MIL	MIL	WIG	WIG	WIG	WIG	WIG	LEI	LEI

Career finals

BDO major finals: 1 (1 title)

Legend
Winmau World Masters (1–0)

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score
Winner	1.	2017	Winmau World Masters	Mark McGeeney	6–1 (s)

External links

• Krzysztof Ratajski player profile at Darts Orakel