Ratajski, 48, came from 3-1 down and survived three match darts before beating large Dutchman Wesley Plaisier – the conqueror of Gerwyn Price – 4-3 in the first third-round tie post-Christmas
Ratajski, who started this tournament in 37th spot in the world, uncharacteristically celebrated wildly when he took out the winning double 18, which banks him at least £60,000.
Last year the Polish Eagle saw his ranking drop because he had to take time off for rest and recovery.
That is because he was struggling with aneurysms – swelling in a blood vessel in the brain – throughout the year and underwent two corrective, life-saving surgeries.
Speaking modestly, Ratajski said: “I had a little health problem with my head. I had an injury.
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“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.
“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.
“Now, I’m in good form. We’ll see how far I can go in this tournament. I feel confident.”
Ratajski will now play No.25 seed Luke Woodhouse, the other Luke in the draw, who was a 4-1 winner over Andrew ‘Goldfighter’ Gilding.
Remarkably, one of those two will be in the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day where they will have earned £100,000 in prize money.
Jonny Clayton – who eliminated Dutchman Niels Zonneveld 4-3 from the third round – was in the shops when he got the call that his second-round opponent Dom Taylor had been booted out of the tournament.
Bristolian Taylor, 27, apologised in a social media post for failing an in-competition drugs test – his second doping infringement in 14 months – following various moments of family heartbreak and grief.
Welshman Clayton, 51, said: “When I found out, there was a smile on my face.
“I was shopping at the time. I got the phone call from agent Jason and told I could turn back home. Thank you very much.
“It was the day before. I was already in London.
“Would I have rather played the second game? Yeah, probably. To keep in the tournament. But I’m not going to turn it away.
“It’s money in the rankings, it’s not my problem. So, happy days. I’m happy that seeds are falling. I want to be there at the end.l