"It's been a kick up the backside that I probably needed" - Joe Cullen honest about slipping down the world rankings

Joe Cullen booked himself a spot in the last 16 of the 2024 World Grand Prix on Tuesday evening. 'The Rockstar' triumphed 2-1 against Chris Dobey, averaging over 93 in the process.

Fighting back from a set down, Cullen didn't exactly have things all his own way against Dobey. But, he started the deciding set in a great rhythm and he broke on double six for 1-0. Dobey took four darts to get off on Cullen's throw and the Bradford ace hit a 180 to surge ahead. He went one away and Dobey failed to get off again in the opening throw. Cullen did first dart and he pinned 110 to seal a superb win.

"Even though I was a set down, I actually felt like I wasn't playing too bad. Obviously, the doubles at the end of the legs were killing me but I felt like I was playing okay. I didn't feel edgy or anything like that," Cullen assesses of the contest in his post-match press conference afterwards. "I'm happy to win by any means. I don't care how I win as long as I win."

Although Cullen hasn't been at his best in 2024, dropping down the rankings and struggling to make much of an impact in the TV events, as we enter the most important part of the season, the Englishman could be timing his form to perfection.

"If I'm perfectly honest. I think complacency has snuck in you know, because I've had it so good over the last sort of four or five years," he admits. "Being in the top 16, you don't really have to worry about much, so I think it's been a kick up the backside that I probably needed. I've been rubbish on the floor all year, but I'm still somehow managing to hang on to Minehead at the minute. But I feel like I find my best on TV and when I need it most."