A player widely regarded by the PDC as one of darts’ most naturally gifted competitors has admitted he has “lost a lot of love for the game” and no longer enjoys competing the way he once did.
Joe Cullen, currently ranked No. 32 on the PDC Order of Merit, will return to the Alexandra Palace stage this winter after securing his place at the biggest-ever World Darts Championship. “The Rockstar” will discover his first-round opponent when the draw is made in London on November 24.
This year’s event is set to feature a record 128 players, and Cullen will be hoping to better his 2023 campaign, where he reached the fourth round but narrowly missed two match darts at double 18 against Luke Humphries.
Although highly admired for his talent, Cullen has admitted that motivation has been a struggle recently. Speaking in a candid interview with Online Darts, he opened up about his current mindset.
“I’ve had a tough couple of years, on the board and away from darts,” he said. “I’m in the position I’m in because of me. There’s only myself who can put it right. But over the last few years, I’ve lost a lot of love for the game. I don’t enjoy playing darts as much as I should.”
He went on to explain that the social aspects of life on tour have sometimes become more appealing than the competition itself.
“There were times when I really looked forward to playing darts, but now I look forward to the craic with the lads more,” he admitted. “I’d miss that more than the darts— and that’s not how it should be if you want to be successful.”
Cullen: Littler and New Young Stars Have Raised the Standard
Asked how he might rediscover his passion, Cullen acknowledged that the emerging generation of players—such as Dutch newcomer Wessel Nijman—have shifted the landscape of the sport.
“There are so many players who might not have as much natural ability as I have, but they’re hungrier. And that makes a difference,” he said. “If I’m not fully bothered about the result, someone with less ability but more drive has a better chance of beating me.”
He also highlighted the influence of Luke Littler, whose rapid rise has inspired a surge of young talent entering the sport.
“You look at players like Nijman—he’s playing unbelievable darts and clearly loves the game. And the same goes for a lot of the younger lads coming through. I can’t remember the last time I felt that way,” he said.
“The rise of Luke Littler has pushed the game forward again. There are more young players than ever who can see the opportunity and what’s possible. You can make a great career if you’re good enough. But if you’re not in love with the game, you’ll get left behind.”
Cullen admitted that unless he regains his enthusiasm, he risks sliding further down the rankings.
“I’m sitting around the late 20s, early 30s in terms of ranking. If I don’t sort my attitude out and get that love back, it could be a slippery slope.”
The 2025 World Darts Championship runs from December 11 to January 3, with four first-round matches opening the tournament on the first evening.
