Just like Jonny Clayton 12 months ago, Joe Cullen prepares to make his Premier League debut after winning the masters at the weekend. Cullen defeated Dave Chisnall 11-9 in Milton Keynes to win his first televised event and his reward is a spot in the tournament on the road.
“It’s exciting, I’ve worked very hard to get into the premier league for a long time. I will face my good mate Jonny (Clayton), in Wales as the defending champion on the opening night and I’m sure it will be a special atmosphere”
Cullen has also got a point to prove now after winning his first televised title at the weekend and will be looking for more success on the big stage starting with the premier league in Cardiff on Thursday.
“Winning my first TV event, you have to go in there confident. We saw what it did for Jonny last year and I think that all the players in it will be confident and believe they can win it and I’m no different”
Joe like many others is relishing the prospect of the new format in which the tournament will be set out this year with the mini-tournament setup starting tonight, as well as the brand new Winmau dartboard and Cullen has vowed his inexperience might benefit his overall performance.
“I think it’s good for me being debutant because there’s a lot of new things that the boys who have been in the tournament that they’ve not experienced before” and is hoping this will help him push on to finish in the all-important play off positions.
The premier league gets underway tonight and Joe will kickstart the tournament as he prepares to face Jonny Clayton in a mouth-watering opening match for the new Premier League campaign.
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Words: Harry Masterson
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