Joe Cullen secured a convincing 3–0 victory over Bradley Brooks on Sunday afternoon at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, but the match did not end without consequences for the Englishman.
An action carried out by Cullen in full view of the television cameras after his win has resulted in a disciplinary fine, as can be seen in the footage circulating from the match. As a result, a portion of his prize money will be deducted—something that will undoubtedly frustrate him.
Joe Cullen 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/riGA0P80kX
— Josh (@joshpearson180) December 14, 2025
Financially, however, the impact is limited. Cullen had already been guaranteed £15,000 simply for participating in the World Championship, while his progression to the second round added a further £10,000. In total, his victory over Brooks earned him £25,000, although the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) will now take a share of that amount as a penalty.
The fine is unlikely to have come as a surprise to Cullen. His immediate reaction after the incident suggested he was fully aware that his behaviour crossed the line and would not go unpunished.
This moment should not happen to a professional darts player
With the moment now behind him and impossible to undo, Cullen’s focus must turn to the next round. The second round matches are scheduled to take place between 20 and 23 December, where he will face the winner of the tie between Mensur Suljović and David Cameron.
Cullen is expected to follow that match closely on Monday afternoon, watching from home as it takes place during the third game of the session. That same session will also feature a highly anticipated encounter between Noa-Lynn van Leuven and former world champion Peter Wright.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Monday evening will see Dirk van Duijvenbode take on Andy Baetens, while Tuesday night features an all-Frisian clash between Danny Noppert and Jurjen van der Velde. On Wednesday evening, Raymond van Barneveld returns to Alexandra Palace to face Stefan Bellmont.
Thursday’s schedule includes matches featuring Jermaine Wattimena and Michael van Gerwen against Dominik Gruellich and Mitsuhiko Tatsunami respectively, before Kevin Doets concludes the round on Friday against Matthew Dennant.