Joe Cullen walks out of interview at World Darts Championship and fumes 'I'm going home' after beating Wessel Nijman

12/22/2024 11:18 AM

JOE CULLEN stormed out of his World Championship press conference blasting that the media had shown him “no respect”.

The Bradford star beat Wessel Nijman 3-0 with a blistering opening performance at the Ally Pally.

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But then moody Cullen, 35, lashed out at the press just minutes after booking his place in the third round.

Cullen, whose walk-on is Don't Look Back In Anger, took questions for under three minutes before walking out in anger.

He said: “I'm over the moon. I played some of my best stuff.

“Proud? I'm 30 places ranked above him.

“I'm happy with the performance. I don't know Wessel personally.

“I think surrounding the media I think probably led to his demise a little bit.

"I've struggled this year on the oche and off the oche. To find a performance like that.

“To be honest I've got to thank you guys because I don't think I would have played like that if I hadn't read the nonsense that I did beforehand.”

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But then Cullen snapped, alluding to the attention given to Wessell over his return from a match-fixing ban.

He added: “I tell you what. Honestly the media attention that Wessell's got, again this is not a reflection on him.

“He seems like a fantastic kid.

"He got caught up in a few things beforehand, he's served his time and held his hands up, a lot haven't.

"But I think the way I've been treated probably with the media. I know that you guys have no control of the bookies.

“I've been shown no respect, I won't show respect to any of you guys tonight, I'm going to go home.”

Cullen will now face former world champion Gerwyn Price in Round 3.