Krzysztof Ratajski (credit: PDC)

Krzysztof Ratajski doubles up in Barnsley as he lands Players Championship 22

By Sporting Life

Darts

Sun October 21, 2018 · 6y ago

Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski won Players Championship 22 in Barnsley on Sunday, adding to his success on Saturday to join elite couple in landing a weekend double.

Only Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson have won twice in as many days this year, but Ratajski now joins them after beating Adrian Lewis 6-4 in the final.

Ratajski won all seven matches on Saturday yet stepped up a gear on Sunday, the quality of his opponents a level above that which he'd met 24 hours earlier.

A last-16 victory over Daryl Gurney was followed by Michael Smith in the quarter-finals and Kyle Anderson in the semis, before two-time world champion Lewis became his final victim.

All four of those matches were won 6-4 as Ratajski added to Saturday's title, plus an early-season success in a Coral UK Open Qualifier.

"I can't believe it, for me this is really something impossible but I've done it again," said Ratajski, who on Saturday became the 14th different winner from this year's 22 Players Championship events.

"I don't know how I did it but for me this is a perfect weekend - I am so happy!

"I've beaten some really great players this weekend but I have big respect for all of them."

Krzysztof Ratajski (credit: PDC)

Pole edges high-quality final

Ratajski recorded wins over Cameron Menzies, Zoran Lerchbacher and Terry Temple before adding Gurney, Smith and Anderson to his list of victims, setting up a showdown with Lewis, who was starring in his fourth PDC final of the year.

A high-quality start to the final saw four consecutive holds of throw, with each leg won in 15 darts or fewer before Lewis missed three darts at double top for a break of throw and Ratajski punished by hitting double 16 with his last dart in hand.

Lewis hit single 19, double 19, double 20 to take out 97 and let out a determined roar in a passionately contested final, only for the Pole to hit double 16 once again to go 4-3 ahead.

Lewis levelled it up again before Ratajski's trusty double 16 saw him move within a leg of victory, and he then hit the same double to clinch the title.

Despite defeat in the final, Lewis continued his strong ProTour form in 2018, reaching the final thanks to wins over Chris Quantock, Robert Thornton, Jamie Hughes, Jamie Bain, James Wade and Luke Humphries.

Another nine-dart finish

Earlier in the day, Dutchman Jimmy Hendriks landed a nine-dart leg in his first-round game with Mark Wilson, the second perfect leg of the weekend after Andrew Gilding achieved the same feat on Saturday.

The final day of 2018 ProTour action was also a significant one for Humphries, who ensured his return to Alexandra Palace thanks to victories over Steve Lennon, Jarred Cole, Rowby-John Rodriguez, Chris Dobey and James Wilson.

Multiple-televised event winner Wade reached his 75th ProTour quarter-final, while semi-finalist Kyle Anderson continued his return to form, averaging over 100 over the course of the day.