BRADFORD darts star Joe Cullen missed a great chance to reach the semi-finals of the Boylesports World Grand Prix in Coventry, blowing a two-set lead in defeat to Dave Chisnall.

'The Rockstar' made a brilliant start to his quarter-final clash with 'Chizzy'.

The pair held throw right throughout the first set, but with Chisnall all set to wrap things up on his throw, he missed multiple darts to checkout, allowing Cullen to steal in and take out 25, with a double eight finish.

The first four legs of set two were fairly quiet, with the highlight being the Bradfordian's 13-darter for a comfortable hold.

But a crazy final leg saw Cullen miss double 14 for what would have been a sensational 148 checkout.

'Chizzy' missed two darts to checkout with 60, before both somehow failed to win the set with their next throws.

Cullen eventually scrambled over the line with a double seven to make it 2-0.

But 'The Rockstar' struggled in set three, missing a 54 checkout on his own throw and losing all three legs in double quick time.

He and Chisnall both held on their throw at the start of set four, but the latter picked up a crucial break in leg three.

'Chizzy' missed bull for an 88, but then Cullen missed three for the leg. His opponent took full advantage, cleaning up 25.

He used that momentum to make an astonishing 155 checkout in leg four to take the set and make it 2-2.

Chisnall raced into a two-leg lead in the deciding set, but Cullen broke back in leg three, before nailing tops to take the game to a winner-takes-all shootout.

But on his own throw, 'Chizzy' wrapped things up with a double 10 to take the match and leave Cullen crestfallen.

On Twitter afterwards, Cullen said: "Gutted doesn’t even cover it! I just lost the ability to score in the middle of the game and was chasing trebles for 3 sets.

"Really tough one to take. 100% could see myself lifting that trophy."

It was a shame for the 31-year-old, who had beaten Welshman Jonny Clayton just a couple of days earlier in the second round.

Cullen broke twice to take the opening set comfortably, before winning a much more competitive second set thanks to a stunning fourth leg, hitting 180, 134 and 139 to leave an easy double eight finish.

The third set went with throw throughout, allowing Clayton to pull it back to 2-1, before the Welshman broke Cullen in the opening leg of set four, going on to win that and force a decider.

An extraordinary final set ensured, with all five legs going against the throw, and it was Cullen who prevailed.

Gerwyn Price won the tournament last night, beating Chisnall in the last four, before ending Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode's fairytale run in the final.