Cullen Accuses Suljovic of Cheating in Darts Defeat

Joe Cullen accused Mensur Suljovic of cheating after the Austrian defeated him in a tense second-round match at the PDC World Darts Championship on Sunday at Alexandra Palace in London. The 36-year-old Englishman, seeded 32nd, took the opening set but lost the next three to exit the tournament 3-1, amid growing frustration over his opponent's deliberate pace.

The clash highlighted a stark contrast in playing styles, with Cullen's quick tempo disrupted by Suljovic's methodical approach. Known as one of the slower players on the professional circuit, the 53-year-old Suljovic took extended time between throws, drawing visible irritation from Cullen. At one point, Cullen muttered "hurry up" under his breath as Suljovic composed himself on the oche. The referee, Kirk Bevins, even intervened during the match, speaking to Suljovic after he lingered while retrieving his darts from the board following a leg win.

Cullen, who had advanced past Bradley Brooks 3-0 in the first round, held a 2-1 lead in the fourth set but missed two darts that could have forced a decider. Suljovic sealed the victory with a double, averaging 81.95 despite converting only 24 percent of his doubles. The...