“My Christmas will be in Poland, with family” – Krzysztof Ratajski set for enjoyable festive period as World Championship hopes stay alive

Krzysztof Ratajski showed at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship that he is very much back in the conversation. With a strong and mature performance, the Pole secured his place in the third round after the Christmas break thanks to victory over Ryan Joyce.

It was not only an important sporting result, but also an emotional release for a player who has spent recent seasons searching for his best form and now feels clearly on the way back. “I’m really happy. I’m back here after Christmas, so it’s something big,” Ratajski said afterwards.

The statistics backed up his performance. Ratajski moved into a 2-0 lead in sets and was operating close to a 100 average during that phase of the match. Yet his own focus was firmly on what truly made the difference.

“I felt good today, but there were a few moments when I didn’t feel my darts like I usually do,” he admitted. “But I had good finishing. I don’t know what the average was, or the percentage on the doubles, but I think the doubles were most important.”

Ratajski may not have known the exact numbers, but he had no doubt about what decided the contest. “I think the doubles were most important,” he said. In a match where Ryan Joyce was inconsistent and missed several chances, Ratajski proved ruthless when it mattered. “Ryan is a great player and today he made many mistakes. So it was my chance, and I took this chance, and I won the match.”

That sense of relief also explained the emotion on stage afterwards. Known as a calm and reserved figure, Ratajski allowed himself a rare outpouring. “It was a very difficult match with Ryan,” he explained. “That’s why this win meant so much to me.”

For many players, the World Championship is split into two halves: before and after Christmas. Failing to return after the break can cast a shadow over the festive period. For Ratajski, the situation was simple. “I’m really happy I won today,” he said. “I’m back here after Christmas.”

He flew home immediately after the match, before returning to London later on. “I don’t know when, because I don’t have the schedule after Christmas,” he explained. “But I’m really happy that I can come back here.”

Christmas itself will be spent in Poland with his family. “My Christmas will be in Poland, with family. I’m really happy with this,” he said. “If I lose, of course I go back, but I’m really happy that I will be at home for Christmas and then come back here for the third round.” That does not mean switching off completely. “Yes, I will practise. Of course. I always have a break from practice only on the travel day, but after this I try to practise every day.”

The performance did not come out of nowhere. Ratajski was once a regular presence near the top of the world rankings, before suffering a noticeable dip over the past couple of seasons. Now, he feels the trajectory is turning again. “I feel good with my game,” he said. “It is better than one or two years ago. So I hope I will rise in the rankings.”

Confidence has returned, but Ratajski remains grounded. Rather than setting hard ranking targets, he prefers to focus on the process. “My target is to play a good game,” he explained. “I hope I will be in the 32, the 16, the 8 — I really want it — but I want to play good. If I play good, the results come to me.”

A strong World Championship run can often provide momentum for the year ahead, and Ratajski hopes that will be the case again. “I practise hard, so I hope it will be paid off next season,” he said. “I see my game is better and better. I feel better, I feel more confidence. The scoring is okay. So I hope next year will be good.”

That optimism is reinforced by how comfortable he feels back on the biggest stage of all.

With increased prize money on the horizon, darts is entering a new era, but for Ratajski that is not the primary motivation. “It is motivation, but it is not the first,” he explained. “The first is the atmosphere here — this is the World Championship. Everyone wants to play here.”

Winning matches at Alexandra Palace remains something special for him. “It’s difficult to play here, and to win matches here is something special,” Ratajski said. And when asked about the venue itself, his enthusiasm was clear: “Yes, it’s really exciting playing here.”