JOE Cullen's life has just changed in the space of 12 hours, and now the future looks very, very bright for the Bradford star.

The 32-year-old won his first televised darts title just before 10:30pm on Sunday night, beating Dave Chisnall 11-9 in a gripping Masters final, and at 10am on Monday morning, he was chosen to compete in the prestigious Premier League for the first time in his career.

The ecstatic Wyke native told the T&A: "Winning the Masters is definitely the best achievement of my career, and given what comes with it too, hopefully it will be life-changing.

"The financial gain from winning the Masters (£60,000) and competing in the Premier League every Thursday night is life-changing, and that money is there now to set me and my family up.

"We've just bought a new house and a new business, but 2022 looks like being an even better year now after the last couple of days."

One of the highlights of Sunday night was an emotional Cullen being joined on stage by his father Frank for the trophy presentation.

Cullen dedicated the Masters title to his late mum, who died in October, and he has been open over the past few months about how her death has affected him.

He said: "Dad and I are very close, especially with what went on with my mum at the back end of last year.

"It just brought me closer to my dad, and my whole family, and it's been a big thing for me to spend some time with them all after I took a break between the Worlds and the Masters.

"Getting my first TV title would have meant a lot even if it wasn't in front of anybody, but it was special to have my dad there."

Cullen was 10-7 up in Sunday night's final before suffering a late wobble and he said: "Normally, if you'd asked me before, I would have said I'd have been worried, but I was playing well and I knew Chizzy was struggling.

"I don't like tops or double 10 either, but they were hard to avoid with the checkouts I was left with.

"Once I checked out 145 on my penultimate throw to leave double 18, I knew I'd win, as that and double 16 are my favourites."

As for shedding his reputation as someone who is an excellent player but cannot win big titles, Cullen said: "People like Chizzy, Michael Smith, and Terry Jenkins before them, get called nearly men.

"Before the other night, I was someone getting put into that category, and it was something I never wanted to be known as, but now I've had one TV final and one win, which some people would give their right arm for."

Cullen's good friend Jonny Clayton followed up his Masters win in 2021 by scooping the Premier League title on his debut appearance.

Asked if he could emulate the Welshman, Cullen said: "I don't want to just go for the good money on offer and get out of there, I want to make an impact.

"Beating the players that I did at the Masters (the likes of new Premier League rivals Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen), I feel like I can, and winning breeds confidence too."

Laughing, he added: "It'll be good to be on that stage every Thursday (starting this week in Cardiff), though I'm not sure my wife would agree."