π¦ π₯ππ§πππ¦ππ π§ππππ¦ π§ππ π§ππ§ππ! π Look at the emotion on display there as Krzysztof Ratajski produces a stunning comeback victory to defeat Joe Cullen in a deciding leg, to clinch Players Championship 30! Congratulations, Krzysztof! π
Ratajski seals first title of 2021 with decider win over Cullen to end Players Championship season
PDCThursday, 04 November 2021 at 18:55
Last year, Joe Cullen defeated Krzysztof Ratajski in the last final of the Players Championship of the season but it was 'The Polish Eagle' who's turn it is to soar to victory to conclude the 2021 ProTour season.
Ratajski recovered from 7-5 to do so forcing a decider against Cullen to claim his first title of the season for a player who is usually a perennial winner on the Players Championship series.
He joins Chris Dobey and Michael van Gerwen as this week's winners and continues a run of making the last final of the season every year since winning his Tour Card.
But this time, he takes away Β£10,000 and goes into tomorrow's Grand Slam of Darts qualifier aiming to seal his Wolverhampton spot.
Ratajski missed a break opportunity early on and Cullen took the opening leg on throw.
Two 180's and a 41 checkout saw Ratajski pin double 16 for an 11-darter to draw it level. An 80 checkout saw Cullen hold to make it 2-1.
He claimed a break from there pinning double 12 last dart in hand to make it 3-1. A superb 139 checkout though saw Ratajski hit straight back to make it 3-2.
A fourth 180 and an 80 checkout saw Ratajski make it parity at 3-3 but despite six 180's in seven legs, he squandered the same amount at doubles to break and Cullen made it 4-3.
Ratajski missed double 18 for a 90 checkout but no mistake when he returned as he pinned 36 to make it 4-4.
Cullen didn't go for the 170 despite pinning both treble 20's with Ratajski well back but returned for double 16 for 5-4.
A 108 checkout saw Ratajski make it 5-5 and hold his throw. Cullen missed three to hold in the requisite leg but wasn't punished as Ratajski missed the bull.
Cullen returned for double three last dart in hand to go 6-5 up. He missed the bull to break but returned as Ratajski missed the same target to hold and it was 7-5.
Ratajski missed the bull again for a 121 checkout but returned with Cullen not able to pin a 160 checkout. The former refused to buckle going one behind with a break at 7-6.
He refused to slip and forced a decider with a hold in the form of an 87 checkout. A slip from Cullen handed Ratajski the initiative and the Polish Eagle was on 112 which he pinned.
Players Championship 30 (PDC Super Series 8) Selected Results
Last 16
Matthew Edgar (90.70) 6 | 4 (92.20) Luke Humphries
Michael van Gerwen (97.15) 6 | 4 (94.76) Damon Heta
Joe Cullen (102.51) 6 | 4 (106.97) Callan Rydz
Martin Schindler (96.84) 5 | 6 (103.81) Danny Noppert
Mensur Suljovic (90.05) 5 | 6 (90.19) James Wade
Darius Labanauskas (96.19) 6 | 5 (99.43) Dirk van Duijvenbode
Simon Whitlock (103.47) 2 | 6 (107.77) Krzysztof Ratajski
Jonny Clayton (106.34) 6 | 1 (94.16) Stephen Bunting
Quarter-Finals
Matthew Edgar (88.15) 3 | 6 (98.54) Michael van Gerwen
Joe Cullen (104.87) 6 | 3 (108.47) Danny Noppert
James Wade (90.84) 4 | 6 (95.68) Darius Labanauskas
Krzysztof Ratajski (98.96) 6 | 5 (101.56) Jonny Clayton
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen (104.22) 4 | 7 (111.28) Joe Cullen
Darius Labanauskas (92.75) 3 | 7 (100.47) Krzysztof Ratajski
Final
Joe Cullen (88.01) 7 | 8 (96.04) Krzysztof Ratajski
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- I don't actually see the problem,he was insulting only to himself,as a reaction to his victory. I don't think anyone else was affected,so what's the issue?rick6704-11-2024
- Covid or Vaccine victim?Mysstree03-11-2024
- I've always thought the top 24 should be made up of major winners and runners up then Euro tour followed by PC tour winners - if you don't have 24 after that then have some qualifiers.Thomas Moffatt03-11-2024
- If he gets even a ticking off there is something drastically wrong. Cut this woke crap, he was celebrating in the heat of the moment, not like he abused Bunting or punched someone, he was elated.Mysstree02-11-2024
- Not a Dobey fan at all but itβs bizarre that the winner of 3 Players Championship rounds does not qualify ahead of any runner up. The GSOD seems to be going the same way as footballs Champions League with a lot of non winners. The old football European Cup was a tournament of winners. GSOD should be for winners only and by tournament prestige and if itβs ranked. Not enough players or multiple event winners then add winners of the big invitationals such as the Premier League and WSOD.Mysstree02-11-2024