Cullen denies Price immediate return to winners' circle with Day One win at PDC Super Series 4

Tuesday, 15 June 2021 at 08:45

Joe Cullen has doubled his title tally for 2021 with victory on Day One of PDC Super Series 4 denying Gerwyn Price an immediate return to the winners' circle in Milton Keynes.

Cullen like Price has faced a long lay off due to not travelling to Germany as well during the last lot of Players Championship tournaments but both reacclimatised fast and it was 'The Rockstar' who came through 8-6 in the end despite missing a number of match darts towards the end.

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To begin the tie, Price was first down to a finish on 130 and missed the bull for a hold before chasing round the board which allowed Cullen a second opportunity to break after he initially miscounted off a 78 which he took.

A 17th maximum of the day and double 16 saw Cullen consolidate that hold to go 2-0 up.

A 121 checkout and double 15 from a 90 checkout saw Price draw level at 2-2. This was consolidated with double 20 for a hold at 3-2 up.

Cullen hit back immediately with a 125 checkout to make it 3-3. Another 180 was piled in by Cullen followed by 105 to leave 76 on Price's throw.

He missed double 18 for the break but Price couldn't pick his pocket for a 108 checkout for a hold and Cullen broke on double four.

Double 16 handed Cullen a two leg cushion at 5-3 up. Price hit back on double 10 to hold at 5-4 down as he looked to reverse the spell of dominance.

But double seven straight at it saw him cement the two leg cushion and Cullen was two away at 6-4 up.

A 180 on Price's throw for Cullen gave him six darts at 244 for another break and despite missing doubles initially, he pinned it at the fifth time of asking to break again at 7-4 up.

Cullen was gazing at 87 and missed a dart at the bull for the title but Price missed a dart at double 20 to save his tournament.

Only for Cullen to miss two at double 16 on the wire. Price last dart in hand on double 10 punished to make it 7-5 with a break of his own.

'The Iceman' had his tail up and smashed in a 140 to pounce on Cullen not finishing it off. Successive legs pinning double five allowed him to trail 7-6.

It was all on Cullen's throw or a decider was en route and he was looking more comfortable on the T19's before pinning a 140 to leave 72 for the title.

Price piled in the pressure with a 180 but couldn't take out 84 and Cullen returned for double eight for the win.