Joe Cullen had one of his best performances this year, winning 3-0 against the very popular Wessel Nijman at Alexandra Palace, hosting a post-Christmas meet-and-greet with Gerwyn Price in 2025 PDC World Darts Championships.
On paper, one of the draws of the entire second round is Cullen, who came as close as anyone to beating Luke Humphries at Ally Pally last year, facing one of the brightest rising stars and the bookmakers’ sixth favorite to become world champion in Nijman. However, in the opening exchanges, it was all about Cullen as the Englishman quickly took a 2-0 lead. Nijman missed the target in the third match, but the first set went to “The Rockstar”, who held the shot in the fourth round for double 16.
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Double 16 was successfully nailed again by Cullen in the first part of the second set, scoring 66 points as he continued to put pressure on his younger opponent. Nijman wasn’t too bad himself, however, averaging in the mid-90s, and the Dutch genius equalized the line-up in the next match. After two more throw grabs, the second set was completely decided. Cullen had darts in the fifth game and, thanks in part to two 180s, sealed the second set at double 13.
Coming out in the third set and holding 14 darts, Nijman proved he wasn’t done yet. The Dutchman still hadn’t broken Cullen’s throw, however, and after Nijman missed five shots into the outer ring in the second game, Cullen kept that streak going. The former Darts league runner-up interrupted Nijman’s throw and moved one leg away, and moments later the victory was sealed.
