“It was a magic day” – Jermaine Wattimena finds pride after European Darts Open final heartbreak

Jermaine Wattimena left Leverkusen without the European Darts Open title, but with the biggest European Tour result of his career and the backing of a crowd that had adopted him by the end of a dramatic Sunday.

The Dutchman led Krzysztof Ratajski 6-4 in his first final on the circuit before losing the last four legs in an 8-6 defeat. He still collected the £15,000 runner-up prize after a breakthrough run that had reduced him to tears earlier in the evening.

“I’m very happy with that,” Wattimena said afterwards. “Thank you very much to the crowd. It was a magic day.”

Wattimena reached the final after edging Luke Woodhouse 6-5 in a quarter-final where every leg went with throw. The significance of reaching his first European Tour semi-final overwhelmed him on stage, before he returned to defeat Damon Heta 7-3.

Ratajski looked ready to end the run quickly after opening up a 4-1 lead in the final, but Wattimena responded with five consecutive legs.

A 15-dart hold began the comeback before the Dutchman punished missed doubles from Ratajski, levelled at 4-4 and moved ahead with an 84 checkout on the bull. Another opening allowed him to extend the lead to 6-4.

Wattimena then missed tops for 7-4. Ratajski escaped on double six, levelled at 6-6 and moved back in front before finishing 56 to seal his third European Tour title.

The final contained missed opportunities on both sides, with Ratajski also having let a three-leg lead disappear before recovering.

“I missed some chances, but Krzysztof was 4-1 up and he missed some chances as well, so I think it’s a fair result,” Wattimena said. “Krzysztof was the better player, so well done to Krzysztof.”

Wattimena now heads to Blackpool for a first-round World Matchplay meeting with James Wade on Sunday, July 19, having reached his first European Tour final one week before the tournament.