BRADFORD’S Joe Cullen failed to unseat champion Michael van Gerwen on the opening night of the darts world championships – but he gave him a real run for his money.

The 25-year-old went down 3-1 to the Dutch master but left with his head held high.

Cullen has still never won at Alexandra Palace in five attempts and was an 11-1 outsider to pull off a stunning upset. His spirited display certainly rattled the labouring van Gerwen.

Cullen began in pulsating fashion by taking out the first leg in just 12 darts - with a spectacular 161 finish on the bull.

He had a sniff of the second and broke van Gerwen’s throw in the fourth to level but then failed to hold his own for the set.

Cullen won the next two games on the Dutch master’s throw – only to blow two darts at tops to take the second set. And once again, van Gerwen picked him off in the deciding leg.

Cullen, who fired four 180s, finally got the set he deserved in the third to stay alive with a 114 check-out.

He then climbed off the floor from 2-0 down in the fourth with back-to-back ton finishes of 128 and 104. But a relieved van Gerwen scrambled home to take the match.

Cullen won nine of the 20 legs in defeat and clocked up a 93.14 average.