Poland Darts Masters: Jonny Clayton suffers first-round exit to residence hero Krzysztof Ratajski | Darts Information
Krzysztof Ratajski delighted his adoring residence crowd with a memorable 6-3 victory over Jonny Clayton on the opening night time of the 2025 Superbet Poland Darts Masters on Friday.
Ratajski underlined his standing as Poland’s No 1 with an excellent show, averaging over 100 and pinning six of his eight makes an attempt at double as he reeled off three straight legs from 3-3 to boost the roof on the PreZero Area in Gliwice.
Reigning champion Luke Littler got here by an excellent battle towards Karel Sedlacek to open his defence with an entertaining 6-4 victory.
Luke Littler is defending his Poland Darts Masters crown in Gliwice
There was nothing to separate the pair after six legs, however Littler established management with medical 101 and 120 mixtures, earlier than wrapping up proceedings with a clutch 76 end on tops.
Friday’s first spherical noticed the eight PDC superstars locking horns with their eight East Europe counterparts, with Ratajski the solitary regional consultant to progress to Finals Day.
“Karel is a high participant and he pushed me all the best way tonight,” mirrored Littler, who averaged 97 and crashed in six 180s to e book his place within the final eight. “I simply tried to play my recreation, and I am positive will probably be an incredible ambiance in right here tomorrow.”
Littler will renew his rivalry with Nathan Aspinall within the quarter-finals, after the Stockport star fended off a late rally from Radek Szaganski to shut out a hard-fought 6-4 success.
Aspinall – runner-up ultimately weekend’s US Darts Masters – has recorded back-to-back wins over Littler on the World Collection stage in Copenhagen and New York and shall be hoping to finish the hat-trick on Saturday.
Nathan Aspinall has overwhelmed Luke Littler of their final two World Collection clashes
Chris Dobey was one in all Friday’s stand-out performers, producing an impressive show of ending to dispatch Hungary’s Gyorgy Jehirszki within the opening match of the event.
Dobey transformed 167, 170 and 110 checkouts to finish a thumping 6-1 win, averaging simply shy of 101 to verify his place in a 3rd World Collection quarter-final this 12 months.
The Bedlington star’s reward is a Saturday night showdown towards Gerwyn Value, who defied some late double hassle to brush apart Polish teenager Sebastian Bialecki 6-3.
Rob Cross additionally ran out a convincing 6-2 victor towards Host Nation qualifier Krzysztof Kciuk, and he’ll subsequent play Michael van Gerwen, following his 6-4 win over Croatian debutant Pero Ljubic.
Elsewhere, high seed Stephen Bunting started his bid for a 3rd World Collection title of the 12 months with a 6-3 victory towards Tytus Kanik, which units up a captivating conflict with residence hero Ratajski.
The Poland Darts Masters will attain its climax with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and ultimate on Saturday, the remaining eight gamers battling it out for the £30,000 high prize.
2025 Superbet Poland Darts Masters outcomes/fixtures
First spherical (best-of-11 legs) – Friday, July 4
Chris Dobey 6-1 Gyorgy Jehirszki
(2) Gerwyn Value 6-3 Sebastian Bialecki
(3) Rob Cross 6-2 Krzysztof Kciuk
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Pero Ljubic
(1) Stephen Bunting 6-3 Tytus Kanik
Luke Littler 6-4 Karel Sedlacek
Jonny Clayton 3-6 Krzysztof Ratajski
(4) Nathan Aspinall 6-4 Radek Szaganski
Quarter-finals (best-of-11 legs) – Saturday, July 5
from 6pm UK time
(1) Stephen Bunting vs Krzysztof Ratajski
(4) Nathan Aspinall vs Luke Littler
(2) Gerwyn Value vs Chris Dobey
(3) Rob Cross vs Michael van Gerwen
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