Krzysztof Ratajski produced a remarkable turnaround to clinch his first PDC ranking title since September 2023 with victory in Monday’s Players Championship 15.
Ratajski defeated Dave Chisnall 8-4 to pocket the £15,000 top prize in Hildesheim, which also moves him into the provisional qualification places for July’s Betfred World Matchplay.
The 48-year-old had incredibly lost seven consecutive first round matches on the PDC ProTour prior to Monday’s play, but he halted that run in sensational style at Halle 39.
“I really enjoyed that. I’m so happy,” reflected Ratajski, who averaged 101.73 against Chisnall 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!”
However, on the way to the final, it was not Krzysztof Ratajski who played a perfect leg but his opponent “Chizzy” in his second round match against Darius Labanauskas. Chisnall’s nine-darter was one of two perfect legs struck in Hildesheim on Monday, as Luke Woodhouse also produced a moment of magic in his second round tie against Martijn Dragt.
Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen – the solitary Premier League player in action this week – suffered his fifth opening round exit in six ProTour events, succumbing to an impressive Dominik Gruellich.
Peter Wright crashed out at the same stage to Jim Williams, while James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld departed in round two, despite posting ton-plus averages earlier in the afternoon.
The second day in Hildesheim was particularly successful from a German perspective.
Martin Schindler, Dominik Grüllich and Gabriel Clemens were the three players to make it into the top 16.The latter was the most successful German player. The ‘German Giant’ reached his first ProTour semi-final since February 2023.
But there was someone else at the top: Ross Smith won his fifth Players Championship event. With a clear 8-0 victory over Brendan Dolan in the final, he secured the prize money of £15,000.
During the tournament, he also defeats Dylan Slevin, Steve Lennon, Pero Ljubic, Chris Landman, Danny Noppert and Luke Woodhouse.
He even manages to throw two perfect legs with two nine-darters. In total, ‘Smudger’ wins 24 legs in a row.
‘Ironically, I don’t think I played that well today. Sometimes luck is just on your side. The nine-darters are great, but ultimately it’s about winning the leg. But of course I’m over the moon to have won,’ Smith summed up after his victory.
After ten events, (Joe Cullen in March 2025) it’s the first Englishman to win a Players Championship event again.
