Joe Cullen has taken to social media to criticize Mensur Suljovic, accusing the experienced darts player of dishonesty. The player from Bradford faced a disappointing loss to the Austrian during an intense second-round match at the World Darts Championship.
Suljovic made an impressive comeback after losing a set, ultimately defeating the Englishman 3-1 at Alexandra Palace. Throughout the game, Cullen was visibly frustrated, checking his watch sarcastically and muttering “hurry up” to himself while the 53-year-old Suljovic took his time preparing for each throw at the oche.
Known for his deliberate pace on the circuit, Suljovic’s extended celebrations and slow gameplay seemed to agitate Cullen, who confronted him with sharp words during their post-match handshake, only to receive laughter in response.
As Cullen exited the stage, he paused, glared coldly at Suljovic celebrating with the crowd, and later vented his anger on social media. He expressed his disapproval, stating, “If that’s darts, I don’t want any part of it! Always liked Mensur away from the board, but that behavior was clear to everyone!”
Cullen went on to describe the incident as cheating, emphasizing that such conduct was not in line with the spirit of the game. When Suljovic was questioned about Cullen’s reaction and whether he had apologized for his slow play during the post-match press conference, he appeared puzzled.
Suljovic responded, “I have never personally apologized to Joe Cullen. I play on that stage, so what’s his issue? I may apologize to the referee, but not to Joe Cullen. Everyone has their own playing style.”
The tension between the players continued, with Suljovic defending his actions and expressing confusion about Cullen’s reaction. Despite the disagreement, Suljovic showed respect for Cullen as a person but remained firm in his stance on his gameplay approach.
In the upcoming round, Suljovic could potentially face the defending world champion Luke Littler. Littler is set to compete against David Davies, an NHS area manager, in his next match.
The PDC World Darts Championship commenced on December 11, offering fans the opportunity to watch every match live exclusively through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.