RATAJSKI OPENS UP ON CAREER ENDING HEALTH SCARE

KRZYSZTOF RATAJSKI has revealed how a frightening health scare knocked him out of the world’s top 16 and threatened his career.

‘The Polish Eagle’, who underwent two brain operations last year to treat an aneurysm, rolled back the years to beat Wesley Plaisier 4–3 in a seven-set thriller at the World Championship.

World No37 Ratajski recovered from 3–1 down, survived THREE match darts and averaged 98.43, firing in FOUR ton-plus checkouts in a display of remarkable resilience.

Ratajski admitted the victory carried extra meaning given what he has endured away from the oche over the past year.

He said: “A year ago, I had a little health problem with my head.

“I had an injury. So, it was a difficult time for me.

“But everything is okay for me now. So, I hope I will go up in the rankings and everything will be okay.

“I hope my best darts will be thrown in the future.

“I know I am in good form. We will see how far I can go in this tournament. But I feel confident — I feel like I can play with anyone.”

Ratajski says the scale of the comeback brought rare emotion on stage.

He added: “I usually don’t celebrate very often, but when the match is very close and I come back from 3–1 down, I have to show how I feel.

“It was very important for me to survive the three match darts.

“This comeback is one of the best of my career, for sure. It is the World Championship, so it is the most important.

“Wesley was very good so I knew I had to play my A-game.”

Ratajski returns to action on December 29 and will face Luke Woodhouse in the last 16 at Ally Pally.

Image by Taylor Lanning.