"I've never said sorry, what's his problem?": Mensur Suljovic hits back at Joe Cullen cheating accusations

Mensur Suljovic was in no mood to apologise after a tense conclusion to his second-round victory at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, firmly rejecting any suggestion that he had deliberately slowed play following an awkward on-stage exchange with Joe Cullen.

As Cullen left the stage he was fuming at the end of the match and was seen repeatedly looking at his watch, Suljovic appeared visibly frustrated when questioned about the incident which Cullen later called cheating on social media. “No, I don’t know what his problem is,” Suljović said bluntly. “What’s his problem? I miss doubles, everything — I’m never doing that on purpose. That’s not correct.”

Asked directly whether he had played slowly to disrupt his opponent, the Austrian was emphatic to the media including DartsNews. “No, no, no. I never play slow. I never, never do this provocation. I do it only for my game. I like my game — I go to my job, I come back. I never do this for him. Really.”

Despite the tension, Suljovic insisted there was no personal animosity and even offered a heartfelt message to his opponent. “I like Joe Cullen, he’s a very nice guy, but that’s only for joke, I swear,” he said. “Sorry Joe — I never do this. I love you, man.”

However, when asked if he had apologised to Cullen privately, Suljovic stood his ground. “Never,” he said. “Never say sorry to Joe Cullen in person. I play on the stage — what is the problem? Everybody plays different. I play maybe 40 seconds for my first dart. This is me.”

The flashpoint overshadowed what was otherwise a gritty and emotional comeback victory, with Suljovic recovering after trailing early in the match. "Very nice, very nice, very nice,” he smiled. “One–nil down, come back. My feeling is good. I play good. The last two months I play good.”

At one stage, even Suljovic believed the match was slipping away. “This match, I think, is a losing match really,” he admitted. “I start good, then I miss double — okay, false leg. But I think, never give up. Maybe you give me one chance — I’m here.” That chance eventually came. “God help me,” he said. “I’m here, I take it, I win that game.”

Suljovic was keen to stress that form elsewhere on the circuit does not always translate to Alexandra Palace. “Every tournament is different,” he explained. “The World Championship is a big difference. For me, I say, ‘Mensur, please give your best.’ I give my best, it’s good.”

Having competed at Ally Pally for several years, the Austrian described the event as the ultimate test.

Ally Pally is a brilliant tournament — best tournament in the world,” he said. “World champion is world champion. You play Pro Tours, European Tours — never like this. This is the best of the world. Everybody comes here.”

Suljovic will next face either David Davies or reigning champion Luke Littler, and when Littler’s name was mentioned, the Austrian delivered one of the interview’s lighter moments. “I think I’m bigger than Luke Littler,” he laughed. “Okay, I’m changed, I’m changed. Serious — I’m bigger, I’m changed.”

Asked later about the prospect of facing Littler in front of a partisan crowd, Suljović doubled down — before quickly retreating. “Next game, half Austria, half Germany — I’m home here,” he joked. “Sorry, Luke Littler, you have no chance. Sorry, sorry — we’re joking, we’re joking.”

Away from the stage, Suljovic spoke emotionally about personal loss and how darts has helped him cope.

“My brother is dead. My mum is dead,” he revealed. “I stay here — I hope I’m next, maybe I’m next.”

Practice, he said, has been his anchor. “I do everything for my sport, for my darts,” he explained. “I practise every day. Every day, every day.” He bristled at long-standing suggestions that he does not practice enough. “Everybody tells me I never practise. What is this?” he said. “I’m a dart player, I don’t practise? Sorry — I practise every day.”

Suljovic described a rigid routine, even while travelling or on holiday. “There is not one day I don’t practise,” he said. “I go on holiday, I practise. I swear.”

As the interview drew to a close, Suljovic paid tribute to his family, who remain his motivation. “Only the best for my wife Enisa, my son Tarik, and Emma,” he said. “Thank you very much, guys. Thank you. Merry Christmas, everybody.”