Bunting vs Ratajski (European Tour): odds and bets 23.05.2026

Stephen Bunting against Krzysztof Ratajski is a proper European Tour matchup — two seasoned operators who understand how to manage a short-format contest. In these best-of-11 leg ties, holding throw efficiently and punishing missed doubles is absolutely crucial.

Bunting brings heavy scoring and crowd energy, while Ratajski relies on structure, discipline and elite-level finishing. If this becomes a rhythm game, Bunting could surge. If it turns into a tactical battle on doubles, Ratajski will feel very comfortable.

Stephen Bunting

Bunting has quietly re-established himself as one of the most dangerous scorers on the circuit. When I’ve tracked his recent European Tour and televised performances, what stands out is the consistency of his first nine darts — often pushing towards the 105 mark when he’s in full flow. His ability to pepper the treble 20 bed puts constant pressure on opponents’ throws.

Where Bunting has improved massively over the past couple of seasons is his doubling under pressure. Historically, that could fluctuate, but lately he’s been operating around or above 40% in many short-format matches. He’s particularly reliable on tops and double 10, which gives him flexibility on combination finishes.

The key for me is tempo. Bunting thrives on momentum. If he starts well and gets ahead, he’s very hard to reel in because his scoring doesn’t tend to dip dramatically. However, if he misses early chances and gets dragged into a slower, more methodical match, frustration can creep in. Still, on pure scoring power, he arguably has the edge here.

Krzysztof Ratajski

Ratajski is one of the most technically sound players in the game. His action is repeatable, compact and built for consistency. I’ve always viewed him as one of the most reliable check-out players on the ProTour — especially inside 100, where he’s extremely clinical.

His match averages in European Tour events regularly sit in the mid-to-high 90s, and while he may not produce as many 180 bursts as Bunting, he compensates with relentless 140 scoring. He’s also excellent at controlling legs from 81–121 finishes, which are often decisive in tight matches.

The concern with Ratajski in recent seasons has been whether he can consistently match the scoring intensity of the elite power scorers. Against someone like Bunting, he cannot afford to allow too many six-dart legs against the throw. If he keeps it tidy and maximises missed doubles, he’s more than capable of edging this. But if it becomes a straight scoring shoot-out, he may be slightly second best.