Joe Cullen’s World Grand Prix campaign ended in defeat, but the bigger story may have started before he even walked onto the stage.
The experienced Englishman revealed that he had undergone surgery to have his gallbladder removed shortly before competing in Leicester. And remarkably, Cullen admitted he was still feeling soreness in places while trying to compete at one of the most demanding tournaments on the PDC calendar.
Cullen’s revelation came before his first-round meeting with James Wade, adding an unexpected layer to a match that already promised plenty. The 37-year-old ultimately lost 2-1, but his comments offered a glimpse into what has been a frustrating 2026 campaign.
Cullen Opens Up About Surgery
Cullen revealed that he had planned to have his gallbladder removed, an operation known as a cholecystectomy.
“I planned to get my gallbladder out. Never had an operation. So I wasn’t thrilled about going,” Cullen said.
He also explained that the recovery was not completely finished when he arrived at the World Grand Prix.
“It’s still a little bit sore in places.”
That is a pretty remarkable situation for any professional athlete. Darts might not involve running, tackling or jumping, but performing at the highest level still demands concentration, repetition and physical comfort.
Standing on stage under the lights, throwing hundreds of darts and dealing with the pressure of a major tournament is hardly ideal when you’re still recovering from surgery.
Cullen insisted, however, that he had been able to practice and felt capable of competing.
“But I have had a throw and a practice and I feel okay.”
The timing of the operation has not been specified, so there is no clear indication of exactly how much recovery time Cullen had before arriving in Leicester.
Still, the fact that he was willing to discuss it publicly makes the situation particularly interesting.
A Frustrating Season For The Rockstar
Cullen’s surgery is only part of the story.
The Bradford-born star entered the World Grand Prix ranked 30th in the world, but his results on television during 2026 had not matched the standards he has established throughout his career.
He admitted that inconsistency had become one of the biggest frustrations of his season.
“I think the thing with me this year is I am not sure how I will play from game to game, which is frustrating as a darts player.”
That is perhaps the most revealing part of Cullen’s comments.
For a player at his level, knowing what version of yourself is going to turn up can be almost as important as the quality of your actual throwing. Confidence can disappear quickly in darts, particularly when one poor performance is followed by another.
Cullen added that he had continued working hard behind the scenes.
“I have been working hard and trying to get myself ready for the tournaments.”
The results, however, have been mixed.
His televised campaign included an early exit at the World Masters, a second-round defeat at the World Darts Championship and a first-round loss at the World Matchplay.
His best televised run of 2026 so far was at the UK Open, where he reached the fourth round.
There has been a much brighter side to his ProTour performances.
Cullen reached the final of Players Championship 8 in Leicester back in March, producing a strong run before losing 8-4 to Wessel Nijman.
That result is important because it shows Cullen has still been capable of producing high-level darts despite the inconsistency.
His Problem Was Never A Lack Of Ability
This is where the Cullen story becomes more complicated.
It would be easy to look at his major-tournament results and conclude that he has simply struggled throughout 2026. But his ProTour performances suggest there is still plenty of quality in his game.
Against Nijman in that Players Championship final, Cullen averaged close to 99 and hit eight 180s. He simply came up against a player who was extremely clinical when the opportunities arrived.
That is a useful reminder of how fine the margins can be at the top level.
Cullen has also shown throughout his career that he can compete with the biggest names. His nickname, “The Rockstar”, is well established within the sport, and he has previously won major events, including the Masters in 2022.
The challenge now is finding consistency again.
And recovering properly from surgery could be an important part of that process.
The World Grand Prix Defeat
Unfortunately for Cullen, the World Grand Prix did not provide the breakthrough he would have wanted.
He faced two-time champion James Wade in the opening round, a particularly difficult draw given Wade’s experience in this unique tournament.
The World Grand Prix is different from almost every other major PDC event because players must begin each leg by hitting a double as well as finishing on one.
That makes experience, patience and finishing particularly important.
Cullen battled Wade over three sets but ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat.
There was no shame in losing to a player with Wade’s record in this tournament, but the result continued a frustrating pattern for Cullen in the televised majors this year.
At the same time, it would be unfair to judge the entire performance through the lens of his recent surgery.
Darts fans know how difficult it can be to maintain rhythm even when everything is going perfectly. Doing it while recovering physically adds another variable.
What Comes Next For Cullen?
The biggest question now is what happens once Cullen has more time to recover.
The positive news is that he has already demonstrated during the ProTour season that his best darts remain dangerous. Reaching the Players Championship 8 final was evidence that he can still put together a deep run against elite opposition.
The surgery may also finally allow him to put one distraction behind him.
Cullen said the operation was something he had planned rather than something that suddenly happened during the tournament period. If the recovery continues normally, the hope will surely be that his physical condition becomes less of a consideration and his darts become the main story again.
And that could be important heading into the remaining major events of the season.
The Rockstar Still Has Something To Prove
Joe Cullen’s World Grand Prix exit will understandably attract attention, but the surgery revelation arguably tells us more about his current situation than the result itself.
He is a proven professional who has shown flashes of excellent form in 2026, but consistency has been missing. Now there is another piece of context behind the scenes: he was competing while still recovering from an operation.
That does not explain every result, and Cullen himself did not use the surgery as an excuse. Instead, he acknowledged the frustration of his season while making it clear that he has continued preparing and working.
That attitude could matter.
If Cullen can get fully healthy, rediscover the consistency that has made him one of the more recognisable players on the circuit and reproduce the level he showed during his strong ProTour run, there is every reason for fans to keep watching.
The World Grand Prix is already over for him. But with the season still moving, the more interesting question is whether a fully recovered Joe Cullen can rediscover the form that made him a major threat in the first place.