“Unfortunately, sick to death of it” – Wesley Plaiser gutted after missed match darts at the World Darts Championship

Wesley Plaisier saw his run at the PDC World Darts Championship come to a painful halt in the third round. The Dutchman was one dart away from another sensation at Alexandra Palace, but watched a commanding position against Krzysztof Ratajski slip through his fingers. The Pole completely turned the match around with a string of exceptional checkouts and punished every miss without mercy.

After his surprise win over Gerwyn Price, Plaisier clearly carried that confidence into the clash with Ratajski. For six sets, the Dutchman produced a level that easily met the standards of the sport’s biggest stage. With steady scoring and solid doubles, he built a 3-1 lead in sets and seemed well on his way to the last 16.

Just when the match could have been decided, the momentum shifted. In the sixth set, Plaisier had multiple chances to finish the job but squandered three match darts. Ratajski sensed his opportunity and seized it with both hands. The Pole took the set and forced a deciding seventh.

In that do-or-die phase, Ratajski stayed razor sharp. While Plaisier waited for a chance to hit back, the Pole closed it out in style with a 116 checkout. That ended the Dutchman’s World Championship campaign, as he was visibly dejected on stage.

Afterwards, Plaisier was candid about the match’s turning point. “It’s incredibly gutting. I’m at a loss for words right now,” he told Viaplay. The disappointment cut deep, especially knowing how close he had come to victory. “I should never give away that sixth set, I miss three match darts… Sadly, I’m sick to my stomach about it,” he added bluntly.

He dismissed the idea of being paralyzed by nerves. According to Plaisier, it wasn’t about tension, but simply missing the decisive double. “I didn’t have massive nerves, only… I thought that double 2 (for the match) was going in, but it wasn’t to be. Unfortunately, it just clipped outside. Really harsh and—what can I say—on to next year.”

Looking back, he admitted there had been a nagging feeling the match could still turn. “I felt it coming, in a way. But yeah, I just have to win 4-2. Then you don’t have all this misery,” he reflected. Even so, alongside the disappointment there was pride. “Gutted for a moment, on to next year. Proud of the tournament I put together, but this one stings.”

That pride is backed up by the numbers. Thanks to his strong showing in London, Plaisier makes a big move up the world rankings. He virtually climbs eighteen places and settles around 72nd. In his first year as a Tour Card holder, that is an important step towards retaining his place on the ProTour.