"Michael, he's not happy with it" - Joe Cullen reveals Van Gerwen's unhappiness at Littler & Humphries' pre-World Championship media attention

Joe Cullen came as close anyone to defeating Luke Humphries at the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship, eventually falling to a 4-3 defeat in an Ally Pally classic in the 4th round. Since then though, Cullen hasn't had the best of seasons in 2024, slipping down the rankings to 23rd.

"Yeah it's been a tough year for me, so hopefully I've saved my best bit of form for the biggest one of the year. So yeah, I'm looking forward to it," previews Cullen in conversation with Online Darts. "Surprisingly, I'm probably more confident than my form would suggest."

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Although his form hasn't been great this season, in the background Cullen has been dealing with issues away from the board in his family life. "It's difficult because obviously, you don't want to put things into the mainstream, you don't want to look for excuses, but you know, I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been on my mind," he explains. "There's more to life than darts, but that doesn't stop me wanting to win and wanting to play well. I've had little spells over the course of the year playing okay but, the majority of it, it's not been where my standards are."

"This is the first year in a long time that I've not progressed. Every year, whether it be rankings-wise titles-wise, I seem to have sort of progressed each year and I think this is the first year that I've started to slip down the rankings," he continues, insisting though, that he is still capable of getting back to his very best. "I've got 100% belief in my ability. I'm as good as anyone on my day, it's just the days used to come a lot more frequently. There's only me that can put it right, so if I put the work in, I'm confident that I can."

Cullen in action

Cullen isn't the only top pro who has struggled slightly in 2024. His good friend Michael van Gerwen has also suffered a more difficult season than usual and as such, heads to the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship somewhat under the radar, with the duo of Luke Humphries and Luke Littler taking much of the attention pre-tournament. According to Cullen, this fact will annoy 'MVG'.

"There's a lot of players that are blind to it or a little jealous, but everyone is talking about darts because of Luke Littler. And obviously, Luke Humphries won the Worlds so those two are definitely the two to beat," notes 'The Rockstar'. "Michael, he's not happy with it. It used to be Michael van Gerwen then everyone else, but it's not that now, it's the two Lukes then everyone else. They set the bar and it's up to us to catch up."

For Cullen, the tournament begins on the 22nd of December as he faces either Wessel Nijman or Cameron Carolissen in the second round. "Wessel has played amazing darts this year, but I'm quite happy with the draw," Cullen says. "I think, maybe the way this year has gone, elements of complacency might have crept in if it had been a favourable draw. But you know, Wessel's playing great so I know that I need to play well, otherwise I'll be going home."

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