Michael van Gerwen survived a deciding-leg scare against Krzysztof Ratajski to win 6-5 at the Slovak Darts Open on Saturday night.
The Dutchman came through the second-round match in Bratislava after Ratajski pushed him all the way, keeping Van Gerwen alive in the first PDC European Tour event staged in Slovakia. The result sends Van Gerwen into Sunday’s last 16, where he will face Andrew Gilding.
The updated match schedule from PDC Europe lists Van Gerwen’s 6-5 win over Ratajski, alongside a string of tight evening-session results including Ryan Joyce beating Jonny Clayton 6-5, Stephen Bunting edging Niels Zonneveld 6-5 and Ross Smith beating Joe Cullen by the same scoreline.
Van Gerwen survives as finals day takes shape
For Van Gerwen, the immediate value is simple: he is still in the title race after a match that could easily have turned into the headline upset of the night.
Gilding’s route is already set after his 6-4 win over Luke Woodhouse earlier in the day, so the Sunday afternoon meeting now gives Van Gerwen a clear but awkward next test. With Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall, Cameron Menzies and Danny Noppert also through, the last-16 card has quickly taken on serious depth.
Van Gerwen will know the level has to rise, but surviving a last-leg match often matters just as much as dominating one. In Bratislava, he has given himself another chance to turn a difficult opening night into a serious title run.
