Gerwyn Price defeated Krzysztof Ratajski

Darts results: Gerwyn Price beats Krzysztof Ratajski in heated Players Championship 27 final

By Chris Hammer

Darts

Sat October 05, 2019 · 5y ago

Gerwyn Price defeated Krzysztof Ratajski in an explosive and thrilling final to win Players Championship 27 in Dublin on Friday.

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Not only did the Welshman claim his fourth title of the season and eighth of his career to end Ratajski's perfect record in PDC finals - which was extended to six at last weekend's Gibraltar Darts Trophy - but he also warmed up his vocal chords in preparation for getting back in front of a big crowd at the World Grand Prix over the next week.

Despite this being the quiet surroundings of a floor tournament at the Citywest Convention Centre, the Iceman didn't exactly keep his cool with his celebrations after dramatically winning the last two legs to triumph 8-7 having seen a 6-1 lead wiped out by the Pole's stunning comeback.

He also appeared to refuse Ratajski's offer of a fist bump before the deciding leg and although he claimed he didn't see it, he admitted afterwards he wouldn't have done it even if he had.

Price said: "We don't meet eye to eye, he plays his game I play mine. I'm not going to fist bump him to wish him all the best in the last leg - I hope he plays rubbish!"

Ratajski v Price - The dramatic Players Championship 27 Final

Ratajski, who had overcome the likes of Rob Cross and Mensur Suljovic en route to his seventh PDC final, looked dead and buried when Price's 12-darter put him five clear but a stunning 170 checkout began a run of six successive legs.

A frustrated Price, who had punched the board and table behind the pair at various points, pinned a superb finish from 121 to stop the rot and force a decider, which he duly won with a 74 checkout under intense pressure following Ratajski's missed match dart at double 16.

The manner of the Grand Slam of Darts champion's behaviour received no shortage of reaction on social media and is the latest flashpoint in his controversial - yet highly entertaining career - that also underlines he can spark a row in an almost empty room.

More importantly the world number six, who has won two other Players Championship events this season as well as last month's International Darts Open, will feel in supremely confident mood ahead of a big winter of majors that starts with the World Grand Prix in Dublin on Sunday.

He did, however, have to survive a couple of scares along the way, as Ryan Joyce missed a match dart against him in his first PDC semi-final since February 2018 while he also edged out Simon Whitlock in a deciding leg in round three.

Other than that it was a fairly impressive day, posting 103 and 105 averages in victories over Adrian Gray and Jermaine Wattimena respectively while he thrashed Tytus Kanik 6-1 and beat Cristo Reyes 6-4.

Ratajski will feel down to see his 11-match winning streak come to end - as well as his invincibility in finals - but there can be no doubting what a dangerous player he's becoming on the circuit.

On Saturday, Players Championship 28 will take place on the eve of the double-start major.