JOE Cullen bowed out at the last-16 stage of the UK Open at the weekend, as there was a shock first-time major winner at Minehead.

Andrew Gilding went into the tournament ranked 41st in the world, and had never reached a televised final in his life.

But the 52-year-old stunned one of the sport's all-time greats, Michael van Gerwen, in the showpiece with an 11-10 victory, the Dutchman having missed five double attempts to take a 9-6 lead at one point.

Van Gerwen has claimed 45 major PDC titles in his illustrious career to date, but he was denied a 46th in a thrilling final.

Bradford man Cullen will be disappointed with his own performance, having started so brightly.

On the Friday night, he averaged over 97 to dispatch Irishman Dylan Slevin 10-7 in his opening game, before coasting past Czech opponent Karel Sedlacek 10-5 to make it to the last-16.

But in the Wyke thrower's first big test, he flopped badly, recording a miserable 87.16 average in losing 10-2 to Nathan Aspinall, who barely had to get out of second gear himself.

Aspinall was beaten in the quarter-finals by van Gerwen, before the Dutchman was halted at the last in spectacular fashion.