Krzysztof Ratajski finally proved he can take his best form onto a stage environment as he clinched his maiden European Tour crown at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy thanks to a superb victory over nine-dart hero Dave Chisnall.
The Polish Eagle has enjoyed a stunning season on the PDC circuit by adding two floor titles to the three he claimed in 2018 but never before had he reached a stage final - either in televised events or on the European Tour.
That all changed when Ratajski averaged a scintillating average of 109.51 during his 7-3 demolition job on Daryl Gurney in the semi-final and he followed that up with a crushing 8-2 triumph over Chizzy.
Ratajski averaged 102.85 against the St Helens man to maintain his phenomenal 100% record in PDC finals but this was the first in front of a crowd.
The Pole, who had never previously gone beyond the quarter-finals on the European Tour, trailed 2-0 after Chisnall broke his throw with a 117 checkout but he responded with a 124 finish of his own before taking a further seven legs on the trot as he scooped the £25,000 prize.
Chizzy's average of 99.96 was let down by missing five of his seven darts at doubles, with his 42-year-old opponent far more clinical by taking out eight of his 14 attempts while Ratajski also hit two more maximums (two) and made the highest checkout with 124.
Poland's first ever winner on the European Tour said: "It's incredible, I still don't believe it. I've won floor tournaments but this is the first one I've won in front of a crowd.
"This is a great night for Polish darts and I'm just so happy to lift this title."
Chisnall said: "Krzysztof played very well all day like I did but tonight the better player won. Darts is all on the day but it wasn't my day today, he played very well.
"I'm glad to hit a nine-darter for this crowd but tonight is about Krzysztof."
Chizzy had earlier raised the roof of the Victoria Stadium when making his third nine-dart finish of the season in the second leg of a 6-4 victory over James Wade in which he averaged 106.1, hit three 180s and made two other 100+ checkouts.
Dave Chisnall's THIRD nine-darter of the season and the 11th of his career! pic.twitter.com/l6FrDZO0DY
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) September 29, 2019
It was the 11th nine-darter of Chisnall's career - eight years after his first - but only the second he's hit in front of a crowd having also managed one at the televised 2015 Grand Slam of Darts against Peter Wright.
Incredibly there has now been 41 perfect legs thrown on the PDC Tour this season, with the previous record in a calendar year being 29.
Chisnall followed up that fine win by holding his nerve in a final-leg decider in his semi-final with UK Open and US Masters winner Nathan Aspinall, who had earlier stunned defending champion Michael van Gerwen 6-3 in the third round.
This meant the 39-year-old, who kicked off the day with a 101.44 average against Jermaine Wattimena in the third round, moved into his second European Tour final of the season having won the Danish Darts Open back in June but he fell shirt in his attempts to bag a fourth PDC title of 2019.
Aside from destroying Gurney and Chisnall, Ratajski saw off Ian White - a two-time European Tour winner this season - and the recent European Darts Matchplay champion Joe Cullen both by 6-3 scorelines.
This was the 13th and final European Tour event of the season so now the field and draw has been finalised for the televised European Championship, which takes place in Gottingen, Germany from October 24-27.
UNIBET EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) September 29, 2019
The draw for the 2019 @unibet European Championship is now in place - which is your favourite tie?
🗓️October 24-27
📍Lokhalle, Göttingen
🎟️https://t.co/zo9OY2HQwN
🖥️@ITV4, @DAZN_DE, https://t.co/hSz0zP5tWg pic.twitter.com/AvGKiy0j6J
Gibraltar Darts Trophy: Sunday results
Third Round (Best of 11 legs)
- Michael van Gerwen 3-6 Nathan Aspinall
- Peter Wright 6-3 Mensur Suljovic
- James Wade 6-2 Kim Huybrechts
- Dave Chisnall 6-4 Jermaine Wattimena
- White 6-4 Michael Smith
- Krzysztof Ratajski 6-3 Joe Cullen
- Daryl Gurney 6-1 Glen Durrant
- Gerwyn Price 6-5 Rob Cross
Evening Session (1815 BST)
Quarter-finals (Best of 11 legs)
- Nathan Aspinall 6-3 Peter Wright
- James Wade 4-6 Dave Chisnall
- Ian White 3-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
- Daryl Gurney 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Semi-finals (Best of 13 legs)
- Nathan Aspinall 6-7 Dave Chisnall
- Krzysztof Ratajski 7-3 Daryl Gurney
Final (Best of 15 legs)
- Dave Chisnall 2-8 Krzysztof Ratajski
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL TOURNAMENT RESULTS
