Joe Cullen makes light of heated World Championship clash as he faces Mensur Suljovic again at Players Championship 2
Joe Cullen delivered a cheeky dig at Mensur Suljovic when the pair met for the first time since their explosive World Championship clash, jokingly telling the Austrian “you can play normal can’t you, see” after their latest encounter.
The two players faced each other in the second round of Players Championship 2 in Hildesheim on Tuesday afternoon, and while Suljovic once again emerged victorious, the atmosphere was markedly different from their heated December meeting at Alexandra Palace.
The Cheating Accusation
In the second round of the last World Darts Championship, Joe Cullen and Mensur Suljovic met in round two. The match would eventually turn into one of the spiciest encounters of the tournament. Suljovic won the match, but according to Cullen, ‘The Gentle’ had cheated.
The 36-year-old Englishman went down 3-1 to Suljovic in their second round clash at Alexandra Palace and wasted no time venting his frustration on social media.
Taking to X shortly after the match, Cullen didn’t hold back. “If that’s darts, I don’t want no part of it!” he wrote. “Always liked Mensur away from the board but that was plain for all to see! I don’t think I’m alone in feeling this way. The old guard will say it’s part of the game but word it how you will – it’s CHEATING! That’s not darts”.
What Angered Cullen
Cullen started the match strongest in December and took the first set 3-0. The second set went 3-1 to the Austrian, and that’s when the trouble began. From the third set onward, Suljovic celebrated extensively after every leg he won, then walked to the edge of the stage and took all the time in the world before returning to the oche.
The match itself was a tense affair that saw Cullen start brilliantly, taking the opening set in dominant fashion. But things quickly unravelled as Suljovic’s tactics appeared to get under his skin. The 53-year-old Austrian took an age to collect his darts between throws and drew out his celebrations after winning legs.
It got to the point where referee Kirk Bevins stepped in, seemingly warning Suljovic that his post-leg celebrations were dragging on too long.
Suljovic’s Defiant Response
Suljovic was in no mood to apologize for his approach, firmly rejecting any suggestion that he had deliberately slowed play.
“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”.
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 Cheeky Rematch
Fast forward to Tuesday’s Players Championship 2 encounter in Hildesheim, and the atmosphere was completely transformed.
Suljovic once again emerged victorious, but this time the match concluded on much friendlier terms. Cullen and Suljovic shook hands with a smile, and in the background you could hear Cullen say: “You can play normal can’t you, see. You can play normal”.
The comment was delivered with humor rather than malice, suggesting that despite the heated nature of their World Championship clash, both players have moved on from the incident.
It is good to see that both men have left last December’s incident behind and can move forward on good terms again.
Littler’s Different Approach
Interestingly, when Luke Littler faced Suljovic in the third round at Alexandra Palace—just days after the Cullen controversy—the teenage sensation took a completely different approach.
Ahead of his match with Suljovic, Littler spoke out to defend the 53-year-old, disagreeing with Cullen’s controversial ‘cheating’ claims. “It’s not cheating,” Littler said. “That’s just how he plays. He flicks his flight until he feels settled. Joe felt like he slowed it down, but that’s his opinion”.
Littler then proceeded to demolish Suljovic 4-0, averaging 107.09—his highest-ever Alexandra Palace average—while adapting seamlessly to the Austrian’s deliberate pace.
“I’m very happy. The finishing was good. I don’t think I’ve seen 71 per cent (checkout percentage) in my PDC career,” Littler told Sky Sports. “I am happy with that. I felt so settled tonight. Mensur at his pace, I got myself into a rhythm that matches him. It was a bit slower than usual but it worked out”.
Personal Struggles
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”.
Water Under the Bridge
The incident highlights the often-heated nature of professional darts, where even small differences in playing rhythm can create significant friction between competitors. Suljovic’s methodical, ritualistic approach—which involves repeatedly flicking his dart before release—has long divided opinion on the circuit.
Some players, like Littler, view it simply as part of his game and adapt accordingly. Others, like Cullen in December, find it crosses the line into gamesmanship.
What matters most, however, is that both Cullen and Suljovic have demonstrated the maturity to move past their heated encounter. Cullen’s playful jab at Players Championship 2—”you can play normal can’t you, see”—shows that while he hasn’t forgotten the incident, he’s willing to treat it with humor rather than hostility.
For Suljovic, continuing to play his own game while maintaining respect for opponents like Cullen demonstrates that he won’t be pressured into changing his style, even when it generates controversy.
As darts continues to grow in popularity and the stakes get higher, these moments of reconciliation remind us that at the heart of the sport are professionals who, despite their competitive fire, can ultimately shake hands and move forward—even if it takes a few weeks and a cheeky comment to get there.
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