Joe Cullen claimed his first European Tour title with a sensational victory over Michael van Gerwen month andThe Rockstar told Sky Sports that he considers he is capable of challenging for major honours to a consistent basis.
The World Grand Prix gets under way and he heads to Dublin that although Cullen has never progressed past the next round the Emerald Isle.
The Bradford star was hailed as a potential winner and that he demonstrated his credentials in a months European Darts Matchplay, beating James Wade Glen Durrant and Van Gerwen on a single night in Mannheim.
Needless to beat Michael at a closing – its hard enough to beat Michael at any stage. To overcome him at a final does get it that extra bit special, Cullen told Sky Sports.
If Im honest I talked with Michael van Gerwen about it afterwards. I said to him:You have to feel like this every week He looked at me a bit bemused and that I was like:I knew that no one can beat me.
If Im at the practice space and I state thatThere is not any way Michael van Gerwen can defeat me, 100 percent of the clinic room could laugh me out of there. I knew that no one could overcome me.
It was a very surreal feeling and one that Ive never felt before, even when I won the two Pro Tour names. The challenge now is to contact that feeling on a regular basis.
It was an 2019 for Cullen, who endured opening-round exits in World Matchplay and the UK Open.
His televised triumph came from the Pros, but he admits he has now proven to himself that he is capable of scooping stage names.
winning the European Tour a month confirms what you already know. I knew I was good enough to acquire one but if youre not winning any it is alright saying you know youre good.
I have proved over a format I can combine it with the best and there is no reason I cant go on to win a big.
The Rockstar has featured in a lone major semi-final, in which he declared a commanding lead against Simon Whitlock European Championship.
Cullen has also reached the final eight years in each the World Matchplay, UK Open, Masters and World Series Finals, however he believes he is fully equipped to struggle for the main honours of the sport.
Im definitely a point player. I believe I went through three stages. The very first stage I had been really good and I got a few excellent results.
The year when I had been really good on the stage and got some good effects but not as great on the floor and I think that its only a case of trying to mix both today.
The European Championship a year – that I must the semi-finals and ought to have got to this last. I overlooked a dart to get that point but it should happen to be more comfortable than this, you should not throw away a 10-7 lead from a race to 11.
The immediate focus of cullen switches to Dublin which admittedly has not been a happy hunting ground for him, with his previous few appearances.
I believe Ive got to the last 16 over a couple of occasions but until you reach the quarter-finals you do not actually feel part of this championship and I think a lot of the gamers will agree, he confessed.
It is still a bit new to me especially with the short format in the first round. It may be as half an hour. I think the later you get inside the tournament, the more youll have the ability to judge .
The format that is double-start completely separate the men from the boys along with Wayne Mardle has referenced the importance of having a definite plan of attack in case youre unable to pin your favorite starting double.
Many players alter their practice patterns to compensate for your double-start facet, although Cullen made do not feature in his clinic regime.
I believe I am one of those few that does not really practice doubles whatsoever, he explained. Im a believer that if youre able to hit trebles its possible to reach doubles. My practice regime is about throwing at trebles, completely.
If you place three to the top cable of the treble 20 no problem. If you keep putting three to the cable of top in practice it could become an issue and it may turn into a psychological thing.
Even going into the Grand Prix its no different. Im good enough to hit a smaller target so the bigger target should not be too large of a problem.
The 30-year-old suffered a chastening 10-0 defeat against Ian White in his World Matchplay opener at July, yet he has the opportunity for salvation as he facesThe Diamond in the first round at the Citywest.
But Cullen revealed that retribution will not be on his mind against the world No 10.
If Id got beaten 10-0 and got completely blown away, I would have looked at it in a negative way, but I had shots at doubles in 5 from the 10 thighs and it had been a couple of shots, it wasnt like the odd dart now and again.
It was just one of those days. Me and Ian [White] get on well, quite a lot travel together so there wasnt any malice in its end.
Literally in an hour of the match ending we had been laughing about it. It was only a freak outcome and I am convinced there will not be a repeat of this time.
Speculation surrounding the next years Premier League line-up normally begins to mount in this business-end of this season Even though there are a great number of important events beforehand over the coming months.
Cullen has made no secret of his desire to incorporate in the competition and he will consider himself unlucky to have missed in 2019.
The PDC title winner was ranked over nine contenders who featured within this years roadshow and that he admits that his omission was a bitter pill to swallow.
At first glance I wont lie – when it was announced I was very upset. I had been believing what more do I need to do in order to get chosen, he added.
There was lots of discussion about it on social networking and Barry Hearn actually responded to someone who questioned why I was not inside.
His answer wasJoe is in the upper 16 so hes considered for automatic selection, in order there was an explanation as to why I was not getting chosen.
Obviously its a target [Premier League] but I am trying not to think about it too much since in the past two years I think Ive been a World Championship run away from being majorly in the look-in to get a Premier League place.
Maybe that is performed into my thoughts going in the World Championship subconsciously. I believe that its well-documented that I have not been great.
I attempt to appear at it in a certain manner – I am number 16 on the planet without a good run at the World Championship therefore that it cant be a poor thing. If you keep getting wins under your belt TV in big events then youll rocket up the rankings.
Cullens capability hasnt been in question, but hes now using a stage title under his belt and a far more mature proposition,The Rockstar is ready to show that the area of darts his own mettle.
Joe Cullen was speaking to Sky Sports Josh Gorton. Its not very long to wait patiently until darts is back on Sky Sports, the World Grand Prix gets under way on Sunday, October 6 October 12, and seven times of coverage continues until the closing on Saturday.
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