Krzysztof Ratajski is into the World Darts Championship quarter-finals for a second time, a feat which seemed a long way off when he underwent brain surgery last year.
The Polish Eagle has impressed at Alexandra Palace this year, beating Alexis Toylo, Ryan Joyce, Wesley Plaisier and Luke Woodhouse to set up a last eight showdown with defending champion Luke Littler.
The 48-year-old slipped down the world rankings last year and came into this event at number 37, but there was a very good reason for that.
Ratajski had two surgeries on his brain in 2024 after suffering with aneurysms. The corrective operations fixed the swelling in a blood vessel in his brain, saving his life.
Downplaying the severity of the issue, Ratajski said after beating Plaisier: ‘I had a little health problem with my head. I had an injury.
‘It was a difficult time for me. But everything now is okay. I hope I’ll go up the ranking and everything will be okay.
‘I fell out of the world’s 32. My first target is to return back there.’
Often a stoic figure on the oche, Ratasjki celebrated with gusto after beating Plaisier, saying: ‘I don’t celebrate very often. When the match is very close, when I come back from 3-1, inside I think I must put this out and celebrate.
‘It was very important when I survived the three match darts. This is why the celebration is more than normal.’
After beating Woodhouse in the last 16, he added: ‘The bad moments are behind me. I don’t want to think about it, only look forward on a better time.’
The Pole now takes on the Nuke on New Year’s Day and he is well aware how difficult the task will be to down the world number one.
‘What can I expect from this match? I expect Luke Littler will play his game. 100+, 105+, 110+. We can expect everything from Luke Littler, not low but very high,’ said Ratajski after beating Woodhouse. ‘I know I must play my best game. We will see. It’s sport, it’s darts, we will see.
‘It’s hard to have any plan to beat Luke Littler. You’re game must be A++ and you must have big luck to beat him. He always plays good. But there’s always a chance.
‘Every match with Luke Littler is incredible. You are always a big underdog. Of course it will be very hard, but we will see what happens.’
2026 World Darts Championship quarter-finals
Thursday January 1
12.30pm
Ryan Searle vs Jonny Clayton
Gary Anderson vs Justin Hood
7pm
Luke Littler vs Krzysztof Ratajski
Luke Humphries v Gian van Veen
One advantage Ratajski may have on Thursday is the crowd being on his side after the Alexandra Palace fans booed Littler during his last 16 win over Rob Cross.
The 18-year-old is expecting to have to deal with the same situation in the quarter-finals, after firing back at the fans after beating Cross.
He said on stage: ‘Can I just say one thing? You guys pay for tickets and you pay for my prize so thank you for my money. Thank you for booing me. Come on!’
Speaking in a press conference he said: ‘I think that’s the first time I’ve been at the World Championship and the crowd haven’t wanted me to win.
‘I expect the worst on New Year’s Day, whoever I do play, and whatever happens happens, I’m ready.
‘All us dart players, we’re always going to show emotion and we have every right to do so. When you’re in a game like that, with a hostile crowd, you’ve just got to let it out and that’s what I did at the end.’
