Cullen ahead of Price clash after Bunting win: "I still see Van Gerwen as the number one"

Joe Cullen produced at times some of the darts which saw his stock rise even more at the recent PDC World Darts Championship in defeating Stephen Bunting to end the opening night of The Masters.

In the first half at times he was averaging 115 and was superb but by his own admission, he took his foot off the gas in the second half.

"It was good the first half, I tried to defend the lead which can never be a good tactic but I knew I was playing well the first half, as was Stephen (Bunting) so I had to be on my game and I was," said Cullen post match.

"You don't want to be setting off on a bad foot in 2021 especially because the way the uncertainty is with Covid, you want to try and build confidence as early as you can."

In the second round, it will be the new World Champion and World Number One, Gerwyn Price and Cullen said the game will all be about the Welshman and him handling the new pressure.

"He's a class player whether he's put the work in or not but we will see how he responds to pressure. Getting announced as World Champion and World Number One, we'll see how he reacts. I still see Van Gerwen as the number one, I might eat my words when he does me 10-2 but you never know."