"I was much too nervous in this moment" - Krzysztof Ratajski misses double 12 for perfection in victory over Joe Cullen at European Championship

Krzysztof Ratajski secured safe progress into the second round of the European Championship on Friday night with a 6-3 victory over Joe Cullen.

"It was very difficult match. Joe played a really good match, his average was very good, treble 20's very often," the 'Polish Eagle' recapped in his post-match press conference. "But I had a good doubles and good moments so that is why I won this match."

Despite speaking rather modestly there, Ratajski hit a few treble 20's himself during the match. In just the second leg of the game, Ratajski came close to striking perfection, narrowly missing double 12 for a nine-dart finish. "Double 12 was miles away from the target. I was much too nervous in this moment," he admits. "I should have waited a little and then thrown this try to find the double 12 but I didn't."

"It was my first win! It's hard to believe but it was my first win at the European Championships," Ratajski concludes. "So now I've won the first one, hopefully I will win another."