"I've proved I can win on TV" - Cullen sets sights on Grand Slam glory

This weekend the Grand Slam of Darts is back and Joe Cullen will be hoping to kick off the tournament in winning ways on Saturday. 'The Rockstar' will face Ritchie Edhouse at 14:00 GMT in his first game of the tournament.

Joe Cullen spoke to Sky Sports this week and mentioned how the group format can be a bit more kind to players like himself.

“It makes it a little bit easier because obviously a normal tournament is cut throat and if you lose the first game you’re out. If you lose the first game you’re still in with a great shout to qualify for the rest of it. A few players have lost a game in the group stage but then gone on to win the tournament, Its nice to not have that much pressure on the first game when normally its win or bust.”

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The current World No,14 understands that he now has a reputation as a top level darts player and that he is always going to be a contender for any tournament.

“I put it on myself before bookmakers or anyone else, I go and expect to win and sometimes it doesn’t always materialise the same it doesn’t for most players. But I go into a tournament confident I can win ... I know I can win now so whether it be the Grand Slam or the Masters ranked or unranked it doesn’t really matter I’ve proved I can win on TV”

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This year has been a lot more jam packed for Cullen than last year, that is the price you pay when you're playing at a higher level of darts. The Englishmen featured in the Premier League for the first time in his career, he tells Sky Sports all about how this year is a major contrast to previous.

“This years been a whirlwind obviously I got told I was going into the Premier League but I was all set to go to Barnsley on the Thursday. Its been a whirlwind of a year its been constant and it’s given me a bit of a different outlook on what higher [level] darts really is. I knew I was always a top player but it’s the difference between bring a top player and an elite player. There’s no time off, there is no time for families but I’d be the first to complain if I was sat at home."