CULLEN QUESTIONS VALUE OF OVERSEAS PROTOURS
30/03/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
JOE CULLEN has questioned the value of overseas Players Championship events and claimed the sport’s elite are being massively overprotected.
The Rockstar admits he is still undecided on whether he will withdraw from upcoming tournaments abroad on the PDC calendar.
World No.33 Cullen pointed to clear evidence that many of the biggest names are already doing the same.
Cullen told Winmau: “I’m not in a position to do so yet. I think if I do miss events it will be the abroad ProTours in Holland and Hildesheim.
“I have had my views on that in the past and was sort of hammered for that. But I think the numbers that are turning up to those events show I might have a bit of a point.
“Last year in one of them there were two members of the top 16 that turned up. I think it was Danny Noppert and Ross Smith.
“Everybody else missed them. So, I must have a point somewhere.”
The Bradford thrower enjoyed an impressive 2025 on the ProTour, picking up two titles on the floor.
But Cullen failed to reach a major quarter-final for the first time in NINE years, underlining his struggles on the big stage.
The former Masters champion insists his next big target is to break back into the top 16 after slipping down the rankings.
He added: “The top 32 doesn’t really matter, it only qualifies you for the World Championships.
“So, it is far more beneficial to be in the top 16 ProTour Order of Merit than to be in the top 32 in the world.
“The top 16 is where you want to be with all the changes that have happened in the last few years with the European Tour.
“I spoke to players about it and everyone has got different views. I like to think I have a nice, educated place to comment on it because I have been the beneficiary and I have suffered.
“I think the top 16 are massively overprotected but they are not going to change the rules now. We just have to get on with it and try to displace them.”
Image by Taylor Lanning.
