Joe Cullen has accused Mensur Suljovic of cheating following a tense 3-1 defeat in the second round of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace. The 53-year-old Austrian came from a set down to win, but his slow play drew the ire of Cullen throughout the contest.
Cullen was seen sarcastically looking at his watch while Suljovic was on the oche, and after the match, he vented on social media. 'If that's darts, I don't want no part of it!' Cullen wrote. 'Always liked Mensur away from the board but that was plain for all to see! ... The old guard will say it's part of the game but word it how you will - it's CHEATING!'
Suljovic, however, dismissed the accusations. In his post-match press conference, he said he had never apologised to Cullen and claimed he was merely playing at his own pace. 'I wait maybe 40 seconds before first dart,' he said. He also gestured that a dart had nearly hit him in the head, adding, 'This is not okay.'
The incident has sparked debate in the darts community, with some defending Suljovic's deliberate style and others siding with Cullen. Suljovic will now face defending world champion Luke Littler in the next round, provided Littler beats David Davies in his evening match on 21 December.
