JOE Cullen produced his best European Tour performance of the season at the weekend, but the Bradford darts ace saw his hopes end in the semi-finals.

He was taking part in the German Darts Grand Prix, the fourth event of 13 on the European Tour this season.

Kicking off the Munich event in the last-32, he beat Ross Smith, a player who has often had his number of late, 6-5.

Smith will be wondering how he lost, given he averaged 100.69 to Cullen's 91.26, but the Wyke native's superior finishing proved the difference.

Cullen, appearing in his 65th consecutive European Tour event, then comfortably dispatched Lee Evans 6-3 in the last-16.

Luke Humphries, the reigning champion, was up next for Cullen in the quarter-final.

But the Bradfordian ensured Humphries would not be defending his crown, as he beat his opponent 6-3 in an impressive display.

That put Cullen into a last-four clash against Nathan Aspinall, 'The Rockstar' having lost to 'The Asp' in their previous four meetings.

And Aspinall made it five in a row, as he edged a dramatic semi-final 7-5.

That put Aspinall into his first European Tour final, where he was beaten 8-5 by reigning World Champion Michael Smith.

The next tournaments on the PDC calendar are Players Championship events nine and 10, which will take place at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan this weekend.

Event five of the European Tour, the Austrian Darts Open, takes place the following weekend in Graz.