2022 Ladbrokes Masters Finals Day | PDC
Tearful Joe Cullen secured the first televised title of his career with a superb 11-9 win over Dave Chisnall in Sunday's Ladbrokes Masters final.
Cullen had never previously reached a televised decider, but continued the progress he has made in recent years by finally claiming big-stage glory.
In the process, he scooped the £60,000 Masters title at Milton Keynes' Marshall Arena, following up Sunday's earlier wins over Michael van Gerwen and Jose de Sousa with victory against Chisnall.
Cullen had claimed a maiden televised win over Van Gerwen with a 10-7 quarter-final win, and was an 11-8 victor against De Sousa in the last four.
He then held off Chisnall's fightback from 5-2 down in a dramatic final, as legs of 12, 14 and 12 darts saw Cullen take command.
Chisnall, though, took three in a row to hit back before Cullen sandwiched an 82 finish between 14-darters to regain command at 8-5, before taking out 126 to move to the brink of victory at 10-7.
He missed ten match darts across the next two legs as Chisnall kept his hopes alive and pulled back to 10-9, but Cullen pinned double 18 in the next to write his name into the history books.
Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters final (Taka Wu, PDC)
Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters final (Taka Wu, PDC)
Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters final (Taka Wu, PDC)
Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters final (Taka Wu, PDC)
Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters final (Taka Wu, PDC)
Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters final (Taka Wu, PDC)
Dave Chisnall
Dave Chisnall - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters final (Taka Wu, PDC)
Dave Chisnall
Dave Chisnall - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters final (Taka Wu, PDC)
Dave Chisnall
Dave Chisnall - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters quarter-finals (Taka Wu, PDC)
Jose de Sousa & Simon Whitlock
Jose de Sousa & Simon Whitlock - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters quarter-finals (Taka Wu, PDC)
Michael Smith
Michael Smith - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters quarter-finals (Taka Wu, PDC)
Gerwyn Price
Gerwyn Price - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters quarter-finals (Taka Wu, PDC)
Dave Chisnall & Jonny Clayton
Dave Chisnall & Jonny Clayton - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters quarter-finals (Taka Wu, PDC)
Joe Cullen
Joe Cullen - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters semi-finals (Taka Wu, PDC)
Jose de Sousa
Jose de Sousa - 2022 Ladbrokes Masters semi-finals (Taka Wu, PDC)
The win comes only three months after Cullen's mother passed away, and the 32-year-old emotionally celebrated the success with his father on stage.
"I've dreamed of this moment for a long time," said Cullen. "I felt like I was going to win it at the start of the day, so to actually get over the line feels amazing.
"It's bitter-sweet. I'd love my mum to have been here to see me do it but life's not always fair. I miss my mum dearly so that's definitely for her.
"I lost my mum in October and it's absolutely gut-wrenching. That was for my mum.
"It was special to have my dad here. Losing a parent is always tough, so to have my dad by my side supporting me is great."
"