On This Day: Remembering five-time world champion Eric Bristow
The Crafty Cockney was the dominant figure in darts during the 1980s.
Five-time darts world champion Eric Bristow died on April 5 two years ago.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the Bristow’s legacy.
How did he die?
Bristow, aged 60, had been attending a corporate function at the Premier League darts round in Liverpool, taking on some VIPs on the oche. As he was walking back to his car he suffered a heart attack and sadly died. News of his death broke while the main action in the Echo Arena was still going, with the crowd breaking into a rendition of “There’s only one Eric Bristow” during Daryl Gurney’s match with Peter Wright.
What did he achieve during his career?
Nicknamed the ‘Crafty Cockney’ owing to his east London upbringing, Bristow was the dominant figure in the game during the 1980s, holding the number one ranking from 1980 to 1987. He won five BDO world titles between 1980 and 1986, while also winning the World Masters five times between 1977 and 1984. After mentoring a young Phil Taylor, Bristow was part of the PDC breakaway in the early 1990s, getting to the semi-final of the World Championship in 1997.
What about after retiring?
How was he remembered?
The tributes flowed in for Bristow following his untimely death. Barry Hearn, chairman of the PDC, said: “The word legend is overused but it’s an understatement for Eric Bristow,” while former Sky Sports colleague Wayne Mardle described him as a “superstar” of the game and “the reason why I picked up a dart”. Taylor, who had kept a close relationship with his former mentor, said: “Words cannot express how sad and shocked I am to hear the terrible news about Eric’s passing. A huge influence on my career and a larger than life character. The world has lost a legend.” The PDC later renamed the trophy awarded to the winner of the Grand Slam of Darts after him.
