3 days Ago
JOE Cullen was unable to repeat his success in Leicester last month earlier this week. The Bradford darts ace has begun the season in good touch, with the highlight being his Players Championship 5 win at the Mattioli Arena. That came when he produced a dramatic comeback in the final on March 11 to beat Gian van Veen 8-7, with the young Dutchman making amends by winning PC6 the following day.
The players were back at the venue in Leicester less than three weeks later, as PC9 and PC10 took place on Monday and Tuesday. Cullen opened up against Darius Labanauskas in the former and quickly found himself 4-0 down to the Lithuanian. The Wyke native roared back with three legs on the spin, but his poor finishing ultimately cost him, as he slipped to a 6-4 defeat.
He had averaged more than Labanauskas (91.50 to 89.88) and outscored him (4,819 points) to 4,644), but it was not enough.
Gerwyn Price went on to win the tournament by beating surprise package Ian White 8-4 in the final. Gerywn Price just had the edge over Joe Cullen in this epic World Darts Championship encounter back in December, with the in-form Welshman picking up his second Players Championship title of the season on Monday. (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire) Cullen returned to the Mattioli Arena the next day and began PC10 in scintillating form.
His opener came against Darryl Pilgrim and though he started poorly and fell 1-0 down, he soon left his opponent trailing in his wake. The Bradfordian won the game 6-4, finishing with an impressive average of 102.06, including one superb 11-dart leg.
The victory took Cullen into a last-64 clash against Irishman Steve Lennon, where he raced into a 3-1 lead playing some brilliant darts. But the game turned on its head in the fifth leg, as despite Cullen averaging 119, he was unable to find the finish. Staring down the barrel of a 4-1 deficit, Lennon suddenly found himself only 3-2 behind, and thereafter he romped away with victory.
His 6-3 triumph came with an average of 102.15, with Cullen’s falling away to end up on 95.70, as Josh Rock went on to claim the PC10 title.
Wyke ace Cullen does not have long to lick his wounds, as he heads to Germany for the 2025 International Darts Open, the European Tour event beginning tomorrow and ending on Sunday..
