JOE Cullen came close to winning his first-ever ranking major last week, but lost his form at the vital moment in the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix.

After opening up with a 2-0 victory over Mike De Decker, he gained revenge on Ross Smith for knocking him out of the 2021 edition of this tournament by beating him 3-1.

He had averaged over 90 in those two victories, an impressive feat given the need to begin a leg with a double start in this format.

If rounds one and two were about skill, round three was about bottle, as he came from 2-1 down against Chris Dobey, conqueror of the mighty Michael van Gerwen earlier in the tournament, to win 3-2.

Luke Humphries was always likely to be a tough test in the last four, the Berkshire ace having reached six European Tour finals this season and the World Matchplay semis in the summer.

But Cullen was not anywhere near his best either, and he slumped to a 4-0 defeat.

Humphries went on to win in a high-quality final, an impressive display seeing him down favourite Gerwyn Price 5-2.