Darts ace Joe Cullen reveals that a straightforward bit of wisdom from ‘complete idiot’ Richie Burnett has helped him revolutionise his performance in recent fixtures.
The 36-year-old thrower from Bradford overcame James Wade in the opening round of the 2025 BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix staged in Leicester earlier this week.
Cullen progressed through the first round with a two-set triumph, prevailing 0-3 and 2-3 to set up a showdown with Scotland’s Gary Anderson in the second round of the tournament.
Speaking following his victory over Wade, Cullen said: “It’s a funny one with me. I can practise amazing but I base a lot of my stuff on feeling. If I don’t feel great – I’m not going to get too deep with any family [stuff].
“I mean when you go on stage and if you don’t feel great and don’t think your throw is great, you maybe question yourself. I base a lot on that and I think that’s why I struggled in certain games.
“I think I’ve overcomplicated things. Back in the day Richie Burnett once said ‘If you overcomplicate darts, apart from throwing darts at a dartboard, you’ll come unstuck.’
“Richie is an absolute idiot but that stuck with me over the years. I thought, ‘he’s actually right’. There’s nothing stopping you from hitting a nine-darter every single leg.
“It clearly is, it’s your mind preventing you. I’m not going to go down that road, glad to get the win.”
Elsewhere in the tournament, Luke Littler dispatched Gian van Veen in consecutive sets 3-2 and 3-0 to book his spot in the following round of the competition.
Despite parting ways with his manager Martin Foulds and ZXF Sports Management just hours before the tournament, young darts prodigy Littler appeared in top form.
“I’m on my own. Just as myself, I think it’s better,” Littler revealed after the match. “Obviously I’ve got my family to support me and obviously Martin [Foulds] had done his job, but I think it was the right time. Booking flights, hotels and all that stuff and we’re on our own.
“I’m going to have help from Garry [Plummer] at Target as well. It’s going to be massive; we’re going in the right direction.
“No one knows what’s been going on behind the scenes. And I won’t be saying anything, but it was just the right time.”
Luke Humphries also secured his spot in the second round of the tournament, triumphing over Nathan Aspinall with a decisive 3-2, 3-0 victory.