Krzysztof Ratajski defeated Luke Littler 10-6 in the European Championship Darts quarter-finals in Dortmund on Sunday afternoon, ending the teenager's bid to win the one major title he had yet to claim.
The result also meant Littler's attempt to sweep all of the PDC's major titles before his 20th birthday fell short. For Ratajski, it was a victory built on patience, control and the ability to punish key missed doubles at the right moment.
Ratajski waits, then takes his chance
Ratajski said Littler raised his level after the second break, but by then the match had already swung his way.
“He started to play very well after the second break. It was 8-2 for me and I had to wait, play my game and focus on my throw,” Ratajski said.
That was the heart of the performance. Littler did put together a response, winning three or four legs in a row, but Ratajski held firm and then punished a missed double seven to keep control of the tie.
“He won three or four legs in a row and then I took a chance when he missed a double seven,” he said. “It was my chance and I took it.”
Littler's latest setback in a difficult stretch
This was a significant loss for Littler because of what the tournament represented. He had been bidding to win the one major he has yet to take, and the defeat means that particular target remains out of reach.
It also comes after early exits at the World Series of Darts Finals and the World Grand Prix in recent weeks. Even so, he had arrived in Dortmund in strong form after producing the second-best average in the tournament's history against Nathan Aspinall on Saturday evening.
That is what made Sunday afternoon such a sharp reminder of how unforgiving knockout darts can be. One night Littler is producing a record-level performance, the next he is being edged out by a player who was ready to absorb pressure and strike when the opening appeared.
A biggest career moment for Ratajski
For Ratajski, the win carried clear personal significance. He said: “It's my biggest achievement in the European Championship.”
It was also enough to send him into the semi-finals, where he was due to face a home favourite. Elsewhere on Sunday, Martin Schindler beat Jonny Clayton 10-1 in the quarter-finals, while Gerwyn Price booked his place in the last four by defeating Stephen Bunting 10-3.
But the central story of the afternoon was Ratajski's composure against one of the sport's biggest names. Littler pushed, briefly changed the rhythm of the match and showed why he has become such a force, but Ratajski stayed disciplined and made sure the upset was completed.
