In the high-stakes world of professional darts, rivalries can ignite quickly and burn brightly, but they can also cool down just as dramatically. That’s exactly what happened recently between England’s Joe Cullen, known as “The Rockstar,” and Austria’s Mensur Suljovic, nicknamed “The Gentle.” The two players, who had a heated confrontation late last year, put their differences behind them during a rematch that marked a surprising and positive turn in their ongoing story.
The tension first erupted during the second round of the PDC World Darts Championship in December at Alexandra Palace. Cullen, the 32nd seed, started strong and took the opening set, but Suljovic fought back to claim a 3-1 victory. What should have been a standard post-match handshake turned tense. Cullen, visibly frustrated throughout the contest, later took to social media to express his displeasure. He described Suljovic’s deliberate pacing between throws—taking extended time to retrieve darts or prepare—as crossing a line. “If that’s darts, I don’t want no part of it!” Cullen posted. He added that while he had always liked Mensur away from the oche, “that was plain for all to see!”
The incident sparked widespread debate in the darts community. Some fans and commentators defended Suljovic’s style as simply his natural rhythm, not intentional gamesmanship, while others sympathized with Cullen’s irritation over the disrupted flow. Suljovic, for his part, maintained that he never acted to provoke anyone. In interviews after the match, he expressed confusion over the backlash, questioning what the issue was and insisting his approach was genuine rather than tactical.
Fast forward to February, and the pair were drawn against each other once more—this time in the opening round of Players Championship 2 in Hildesheim, Germany. It was their first meeting since the World Championship drama, and expectations were high for lingering awkwardness or even renewed sparks. Instead, the encounter unfolded with a markedly different tone.
Suljovic emerged victorious again, defeating Cullen 6-2 in a convincing performance. But the real headline came after the final dart. Rather than tension, the two shared smiles, hugs, and handshakes. As they came together, a microphone picked up Cullen’s light-hearted comment directed at his rival: “You can play normal, can’t you, see? You can play normal.” The cheeky remark was a clear, playful nod to the earlier accusations about slow play, delivered without bitterness and met with good humor.
The moment signaled a complete reconciliation. What began as a public spat over on-stage conduct had evolved into mutual respect—or at least a willingness to move on. Cullen appeared in much better spirits this time around, and the pair’s post-match interaction showed that professional rivalries, even intense ones, don’t have to define relationships off the board.
In the unforgiving pressure cooker of darts tournaments, where split-second timing and mental focus are everything, players often clash under the bright lights. Yet moments like this remind fans that sportsmanship and perspective can prevail. Cullen and Suljovic have effectively buried the hatchet, turning a contentious chapter into one of amicable competition. As both continue their campaigns on the PDC Pro Tour, the darts world can now watch their future encounters not for drama, but for the quality of their throwing arms.
This reconciliation highlights the resilience of athletes in a sport where personal styles and tempers can collide, yet the shared passion for darts ultimately binds them. With the feud squashed, Cullen and Suljovic can focus on what they do best—hitting doubles under pressure—without the shadow of past grievances. The oche has seen plenty of fireworks, but it’s refreshing when they end in handshakes and a bit of banter instead.
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