Suljovic denies slow-play 'cheating' claim as World Darts Championship unfolds; Dom Taylor opens up after drug ban

Mensur Suljovic rejected a charge that his slow play was a deliberate tactic designed to disrupt Joe Cullen, as the PDC World Darts Championship produced a tense second-round result and a broader shake-up in the field. The Austrian 53-year-old defeated Englishman Cullen in four sets after Cullen won the opening frame, then watched as Suljovic reeled off three straight sets to seal the match. Cullen later vented on social media that the pacing he experienced bordered on cheating, a claim that Suljovic said he did not intend as provocation and that he would not employ as a tactic.

I never ever do this as a provocation, I do it only for my game, and I’m sorry Joe, I never do this — love you man, Suljovic said after the win. The exchange underscored a broader debate about pace at a tournament that does not currently enforce a specific timed rule for how quickly players must throw. The PDC has stated that deliberate slow play intended to disrupt an opponent can be considered unsportsmanlike conduct or a breach of the rules, but the exact pace remains uncodified.

The result keeps Suljovic on track for a potential third-round clash with defending champion Luke Littler, who was due to play David Davies in the late schedule of the day’s events. Cullen’s setback came as the 11th seed saw his run end despite taking the first set, with Suljovic recovering to win 3-1. In the afternoon session, Krzysztof Ratajski defeated Ryan Joyce 3-1, and Luke Woodhouse earned a straight-sets 3-0 win over Max Hopp. Rob Cross also advanced, defeating Ian White 3-2 in a nervy affair that kept the coverage tight late into the day. The evening lineup featured Martin Schindler against Keane Barry, Gerwyn Price versus Wesley Plaisier, Luke Littler versus David Davies, and Damon Heta versus Stefan Bellmont, signaling more high-stakes matchups to come as the tournament unfolds.

Although there is no formal pace clock at the World Championship, officials have reiterated that players are expected to compete in a timely fashion and that any deliberate attempt to slow the pace could draw disciplinary action if it disrupts an opponent or the match’s flow. Suljovic, who has built a reputation for methodical play, has often spoken about focusing on his own game rather than the clock, a stance that his supporters argue fits his approach while critics contend it can be used as a strategic edge.

Beyond the match, the day’s darts narrative included Rob Cross’s 3-2 victory over Ian White, which marked a closely fought path into the tournament’s continuing rounds. Ratajski’s win over Joyce and Woodhouse’s clean 3-0 result over Hopp added to a slate of outcomes that kept the field tightly packed and the scoreboard dynamic throughout the afternoon. The World Championship’s current structure promises multiple high-stakes nights as players chase the title and the substantial prize pool on offer.

In a separate and unrelated development also connected to the World Championship calendar, darts star Dom Taylor candidly described how personal traumas and missteps intersected with his competitive life as he faced the consequences of a failed drugs test and an ensuing suspension. Taylor, 27, was suspended from all DRA-regulated events after an adverse analytical finding following a test conducted on 14 December, a decision announced by the PDC in a statement that outlined that the matter would proceed through the DRA’s disciplinary process. The suspension followed an earlier ban of two years that was reduced to three months due to drugs not being performance-enhancing and taken outside of competition; the latest development added fresh dimensions to Taylor’s already complicated timeline in darts regulation.

In a lengthy Facebook post following his defeat to Oskar Lukasiak at his Ally Pally debut, Taylor opened up about a string of family traumas that he said contributed to his personal struggles and eventual relapse into substances. He apologized to his family, fans, sponsors and management, acknowledging that he had lied in previous interviews and taking responsibility for letting people down. The post cataloged a sequence of difficult events from his early teens, including discovering his late grandmother and other traumatic episodes, and cited a lack of adequate support as part of the root cause that he now seeks to address. He wrote that the pressures of competing at a high level, combined with unresolved pain, had led him to turn again to substances as a coping mechanism.

Taylor’s comments underscored the ongoing conversation around mental health and substance use within professional darts, an issue that has increasingly drawn attention in recent years as players confront the pressures of top-level competition and the scrutiny that accompanies a public sports life. The DRA’s disciplinary process will determine the next steps in his case, but Taylor’s decision to speak publicly about his experiences marks a notable moment in the broader discussion about accountability, rehabilitation, and the support structures available to athletes facing personal crises.

Taylor’s post indicated that he intends to seek help after Christmas and emphasized a commitment to address the underlying issues behind his earlier decisions. He described feeling a need to speak openly about his situation and to pursue the assistance he believes he needs to recover and return to competition in the future. The darts world, meanwhile, continues to watch how the sport’s governing bodies balance competitive integrity with the welfare of players who face significant personal challenges, as more rounds await in a championship that has already delivered a mixture of controversy, drama and resilience.

For fans following the sport closely, the day’s events offered a reminder that the World Championship operates not only as a showcase of skill but also as a stage for broader conversations about pace, conduct, health and accountability within professional darts. As the schedule moves forward, both Suljovic’s strategic approach and Taylor’s path to rehabilitation will be watched closely by officials, players and spectators alike, each contributing to the evolving narrative of a sport that thrives on precision, psychology and perseverance.