Luke Littler's European Championship Dream Dashed by Krzysztof Ratajski in Dortmund Upset

Luke Littler's quest for a maiden European Championship title came to an abrupt end on Thursday night in Dortmund, as Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski pulled off a stunning upset. The 17-year-old sensation, who has already captured multiple major titles in a breakout year, was widely tipped to add the European crown to his collection but fell short against the seasoned former World Matchplay quarter-finalist. Ratajski, known as 'The Polish Eagle', produced a clinical display of finishing to silence the pro-Littler crowd and advance to the next round. The defeat means Littler must wait at least another year to complete his set of PDC major honours, a remarkable gap given his rapid rise. For Ratajski, the victory marks a significant return to form and a reminder of his pedigree on the European stage. With the tournament now blown wide open, attention turns to whether another underdog can capitalise on Littler's early exit in the race for the £500,000 title.