'Lost appeal when BDO players stopped playing in it': Joe Cullen tears into Grand Slam of Darts qualifying criteria

Joe Cullen has always been pretty outspoken about the Grand Slam of Darts Qualifying criteria and has continued that recently saying that despite for instance Jonny Clayton being his best friend, he doesn't think World Cup players should benefit from winning or reaching the final of the event.

This year's Grand Slam of Darts which takes place between 8-16 November will be the last before the format is extended leading many to think that the PDC could even shoehorn top names in by right like the European Tour.

Cullen said that it lost its appeal when it not only dismissed BDO/WDF representation, the main crux of the tournament in the first place but also in making it ranked so that players even winning non ranked events would benefit.

Many of the top names missed out last year and Cullen said that the PDC knew as a result that they needed to look at it in order to get them in.

"I think it was clear to see last year. The PDC acknowledged it whether they wanted to or not there was an elephant in the room. I think eight or nine of the top 16 didn't qualify," said Cullen to Online Darts.

"It was crazy and I think then they knew they had to look at the criteria a little bit. It's one of those, it's lost its appeal when the BDO players stopped playing in it. That was originally it and lost it's identity. When it went to a ranking tournament, that's when people started to look more at the criteria. It's a ranking tournament yet so many unranked events get you in it."

"Premier League they're going to be in it anyway. It's top four, top eight in the world. Not a big fan of the World Cup especially the runner-ups getting in. Jonny (Clayton) is one of my best friends and he's benefitted from it. I don't agree. I don't think the winners should be in it being a pairs event."