Eric Bristow
{{Short description|English darts player (1957–2018)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox darts player
| name = Eric Bristow
{{nobold|{{postnom|country=GBR|MBE}}}}
| image = Eric Bristow 1985 01.jpg
| caption = Bristow in 1985
| fullname = Eric John Bristow
| nickname = "The Crafty Cockney"
| birth_date = {{birth date|1957|4|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hackney, London, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|4|5|1957|4|25|df=y}}
| death_place = Liverpool, England
| cause = Heart attack
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}
| hometown =
| homecountry =
| since = 1968
| darts = 22g Harrows Eric Bristow
| laterality = Right-handed
| music = "Rabbit" by Chas & Dave
| BDO = 1976–1993
| PDC = 1993–2007 (Founding Member)
| BDO World = Winner (5): 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986
| World Masters = Winner (5): 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1984
| British Matchplay Winner (3) 1982, 1983, 1986
| Butlins Grand Masters Winner (5) 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986
| British Professional Winner (2) 1982, 1985
| News of the World Tournament = Winner (2) 1983, 1984
| MFI World Matchplay = Winner (2) 1985, 1988
| PDC World = Semi-final: 1997
| Matchplay = Last 32: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
| tournament =
| results = {{aligned table|leftright=y|fullwidth=y
| Belgium Open | 1978, 1980, 1981
| British Gold Cup | 1980
| British Open | 1978, 1981, 1983, 1986
| British Pentathlon | 1981, 1989
|Denmark Open|1980, 1984, 1989
|Dry Blackthorn Cider Masters|1984, 1985, 1987
|Flowers Dartsathlon|1984
| French Open | 1985
|Golden Darts Championship|1979, 1980
|Golden Gate Classic|1980
|Isle of Man Challenge|1983
|Japan Open|1991
|Las Vegas Open|1990
|Los Angeles Open|1985
|MFI World Pairs|1987
|North American Open|1979, 1983, 1984, 1986
|Pacific Masters|1981, 1986
|PDC World Pairs|1995
|Santa Monica Open|1979
|Swedish Open|1979, 1981, 1982
|Tokyo World Darts Grand Prix|1988
|WDF World Cup Singles|1983, 1985, 1987, 1989
|WDF World Cup Pairs – (Team event)|1977, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989
|WDF World Cup Team – (Team event)|1979, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1991
|WDF Europe Cup Pairs|1978, 1986
|World Champion Super Challenge|1984
|Best Old Major Results|
|News of the World|1983, 1984
|Butlins Grand Masters|1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986
|MFI World Matchplay|1985, 1988
|British Professional|1982, 1985
|British Matchplay |1982, 1983, 1986
}}
| achievement = 1989 Appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE{{cite web|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,626797,00.html|title=Do you remember when...Eric Bristow ruled darts? – Sport – The Observer}}
| updated = 14 May 2024
}}
Eric John Bristow (25 April 1957 – 5 April 2018), nicknamed "the Crafty Cockney", was an English professional darts player and one of the most recognisable and successful players of the 1980s. He was ranked World No. 1 by the World Darts Federation a record five times, in 1980, 1981, 1983–1985 and 1989-1990. Between 1980 and 1991, Bristow featured in ten BDO World Darts Championship finals, winning the title five times, in 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985 and 1986. He was also a five-time World Masters Champion, a four-time World Cup singles champion and twice winner of the News of the World Darts Championship. He won 22 WDF and BDO Major titles, 65 individual career titles and 15 titles in team events, a total of 80 overall. He hosted the first two episodes of the darts-themed ITV game show Bullseye and regularly featured on the show.
In late 1986, Bristow began experiencing symptoms of dartitis, which affected his career thereafter. In 1987, he began sponsoring and mentoring Phil Taylor, who went on to become the most successful darts player of all time. In 1993, Bristow and Taylor both became involved in the split in darts as two of the 16 players who left the British Darts Organisation (BDO) to form the World Darts Council, which later became the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Bristow's last major achievement as a player was reaching the semi-finals of the 1997 WDC World Darts Championship, where he narrowly lost to Taylor.
After retiring from competitive darts in 2007, Bristow worked as a commentator and pundit on Sky Sports darts coverage until the network sacked him in 2016 following a controversial series of tweets. In April 2018, Bristow suffered a heart attack while attending a Premier League Darts event in Liverpool and died at the age of 60.
Early career
In 1957, Bristow was born in the London Borough of Hackney, but brought up at 97 Milton Grove, Stoke Newington, when Stoke Newington was a borough in its own right, where his father was a plasterer and his mother worked as a telephone operator.{{cite news|last1=Sandomir|first1=Richard|title=Eric Bristow, the First Superstar of Darts, Is Dead at 60|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/08/obituaries/eric-bristow-the-first-superstar-of-darts-dies-at-60.html|access-date=16 April 2018|work=The New York Times|date=10 April 2018|page=A25}} He left school at age 14.
Bristow won his first world championship in 1980, defeating fellow Londoner Bobby George. Bristow retained his title in 1981 and won it again in 1984, 1985 and 1986. He also suffered a shock defeat in a final during the 1980s, when the relatively unknown Keith Deller beat him in the 1983 final; he had also lost to Steve Brennan in the previous year's first round. As well as his five world titles, Bristow also finished as runner-up on five occasions, the last in 1991.
The nickname Crafty Cockney was given to Bristow when he visited an English pub of that name in 1976 during a visit to Santa Monica, California. Bristow wore a shirt (which he received from the same pub) depicting a uniformed British policeman, a Union Flag and the title Crafty Cockney whenever he took part in a tournament.
Achievements
Bristow emerged as the most successful and consistent darts player of the 1980s, reigning as number one in the world rankings during most of the period from 1980 until 1987. Television began showing increased interest in the sport in the late 1970s, with the first world championship occurring in 1978.
As well as his world championship exploits, Bristow also lifted the prestigious Winmau World Masters crown five times (1977 beating Paul Reynolds, 1979 beating Canadian Allan Hogg, 1981 beating defending champion John Lowe, 1983 beating Mike Gregory and 1984 beating Keith Deller). He also reached the final in 1989, losing to Peter Evison.
Bristow was a winner of the World Cup Singles on four occasions (1983 beating Jocky Wilson, 1985 beating Tony Payne, 1987 beating Bob Sinnaeve and 1989 beating Jack McKenna) and won the News of the World Darts Championship in 1983 beating Ralph Flatt and 1984 beating Ian Robertson (becoming only the second man in 57 years to successfully defend that title) together with countless other major tournaments including the British Open and Swedish Open three times each and the North American Open on four occasions.{{cite web|title= Eric Bristow Results and Statistics |url= http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=1541|website=dartsdatabase.co.uk|access-date=10 February 2016 |archive-date= 2018-04-14 |url-status=dead|archive-url= http://web.archive.org/web/20180414070525/http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=1541 }}
Dartitis
During the Swedish Open in November 1986, Bristow found himself unable to let go of his darts properly – a psychological condition known as dartitis,{{cite news|author=Nick Harper |url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/aug/01/smalltalk.sportinterviews |title=Small Talk: Eric Bristow |newspaper=The Guardian |date=August 2003 |access-date=31 May 2015}} similar to the yips in golf. He was never quite the same player again, but did regain the number-one ranking briefly in late 1989 and early 1990 before losing his form again. He reached the semi-finals of the 1997 WDC World Darts Championship at the Circus Tavern, where he narrowly lost to Phil Taylor 4–5 in sets.
Mentoring Phil Taylor
In the 1980s, Bristow came across Phil Taylor,{{cite web|last1= Prenderville|first1= Paul|title= Phil Taylor needs to accept his status and start enjoying his darts says Eric Bristow|url=http://www.skysports.com/darts/news/12288/10106527/phil-taylor-needs-to-accept-his-status-and-start-enjoying-his-darts-says-eric-bristow|publisher=Sky Sports News, 20 December 2015|access-date=4 January 2016}} then a raw young darts talent in Stoke-on-Trent, and he sponsored him with about £10,000 to fund his development in the game, on the understanding that the money would be repaid. Taylor went on to usurp his mentor as the greatest darts player ever.
Later career and retirement
Bristow's form deteriorated in the early 1990s and he was dropped from the Merseyside team in 1992. Bristow had joined Merseyside, his third county, in 1988, after previously playing for London from 1976 to 1980 and for Staffordshire from 1980 to 1988. With Merseyside, Bristow played with his international teammate Kevin Kenny, and after being dropped by Merseyside, he was dropped from the England national side later the same year. The split within darts saw Bristow become a founding member of the Professional Darts Corporation.
At the World Matchplay event in Blackpool, Bristow made six appearances without winning a match. His swansong came in a classic semi-final at the 1997 PDC World Championship, which he lost to his protégé, Phil Taylor. Bristow's last appearance came at the World Championships in 2000, ending his 23-year run of playing in a world championship, after which, he stopped playing professionally after the event.
From late December 1993,{{cite news|last=Khomami|first=Nadia|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/nov/30/eric-bristow-apologises-for-twitter-football-sex-abuse-comments|title=Eric Bristow apologises for Twitter football sex abuse comments|work=The Guardian|date=30 November 2016|access-date=30 November 2016}} until November 2016, when he was dismissed,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/eric-bristow-sacked-darts-twitter-football-abuse-victims-wimps-sky-sports-a7445091.html|title=Eric Bristow axed by Sky Sports after calling football abuse victims 'wimps' and 'not proper men'|last=Menezes|first=Jack de|date=29 November 2016|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=29 November 2016}} he worked mainly as a spotter, a pundit and an occasional commentator for Sky Sports during televised PDC tournaments, while continuing to travel and play on the exhibition circuit. Bristow returned to TV screens as a player in 2008 on Setanta Sports to compete in the BetFred League of Legends tournament, beating Bobby George 7–5 in the opening match. Bristow failed to maintain his form, however, and did not win another match in the tournament, failing to qualify for the semi-finals and finishing bottom of the League of Legends table. In 2004, Bristow played John Lowe, with Bristow showing glimpses of his old form in winning the match 6 legs to 1.
Personal life
Bristow was educated at Newington Green JM School before leaving for Hackney Downs Grammar School from 1968 to 1971, having passed his eleven-plus exam. He left grammar school at the age of 14.
From 1978 to 1987, Bristow was in a relationship with former darts player Maureen Flowers. In 1989, he married Jane Higginbotham (born 1962). They had two children, a daughter and a son. They divorced in 2005 after 16 years of marriage, and he was later in a relationship with Rebecca Gadd until his death.
Bristow was awarded the MBE in 1989 for his services to sport.{{cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/51578/supplement/1|date=30 December 1988|work=The Gazette|title=Supplement 51578|accessdate=10 April 2018}}
In 2005, Bristow was accused of assaulting his wife. North Staffordshire magistrates ordered him to stay away from the family home in Milltown Way, Leek, Staffordshire and he was remanded on conditional bail.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4541625.stm|title=Bristow accused of attack on wife|date=12 May 2005|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=15 November 2021}} Bristow was alleged to have punched her in the face during a drunken row in their bedroom on 29 April 2005.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4467006.stm|title=Ex-darts champion 'punched wife'|date=24 November 2005|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=15 November 2021}} He was subsequently cleared of the charges.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4467608.stm|date=24 November 2005|title=Darts champion cleared of assault|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=15 November 2021}}
In 2012, Bristow participated in the reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!{{Cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2012/1107/imacelebrity.html|title=I'm a Celebrity lineup revealed|publisher=RTÉ Ten|date=7 November 2012|access-date=8 November 2012}} He was voted out on 29 November 2012, finishing fourth out of 12 celebrities.{{cite news|last1=Sanghani|first1=Radhika|title=I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Eric Bristow misses out on the final three|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/im-a-celebrityget-me-out-of-here-eric-bristow-misses-out-on-the-final-three-8371355.html|access-date=5 April 2018|work=The Independent|date=30 November 2012}}
On 29 November 2016, Bristow was sacked by Sky Sports following a series of tweets in which he responded to the United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal centred around the football coach and convicted child sex offender, Barry Bennell. Bristow suggested the victims should have "sorted out" the perpetrators when they were older.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/29/eric-bristow-sparks-outrage-calling-footballers-wimps-sex-abuse/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/29/eric-bristow-sparks-outrage-calling-footballers-wimps-sex-abuse/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Eric Bristow sparks outrage for calling footballers 'wimps' in sex abuse scandal|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=29 November 2016|access-date=29 November 2016}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/38139647|title=Football sex abuse: Eric Bristow suggests victims not 'proper men'|publisher=BBC News|date=29 November 2016|access-date=29 November 2016}} According to him, "Dart players tough guys footballers wimps". Bristow was condemned by some social media users, including alleged victims of Bennell, for his comments.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/social-media/article/bristow-under-fire-over-sex-abuse-tweets-qf9vs75dx|title=Bristow under fire over sex abuse tweets|work=The Times|date=29 November 2016|access-date=29 November 2016}} {{subscription required}} Bristow apologised for his comments the following day. In a statement, he compared himself to a "bull in a China shop" and "appreciated my wording was wrong and offended many people".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/38154785|title=Eric Bristow: Former darts champion apologises for football sex abuse comments|date=30 November 2016|access-date=30 November 2016|publisher=BBC Sport}}
Death
Bristow died on 5 April 2018 after a heart attack while attending a Premier League Darts event at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. Bristow had finished playing some VIPs at a promotional event and was walking back to his car when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital.
Speaking to BBC Radio 2, Bobby George said: "In the afternoon, I was doing a show at a pub opposite the Premier League (darts) building, and he just came in, said 'hello' and had a pint, then said 'see ya'. I said 'see ya' because I was working... he went across the road, and two-and-a-half hours later, he was gone."{{cite web|last1=Allen|first1=Dave|title=Eric Bristow Passes Away|url=https://www.pdc.tv/news/2018/04/05/eric-bristow-passes-away|publisher=PDC|access-date=5 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/apr/05/eric-bristow-heart-attack-dead-liverpool-echo|title = Eric Bristow, five-times darts world champion, dies aged 60|date=6 April 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=6 April 2018}}
World Championship results
=BDO=
Bristow's World Championship results are as follows:
- 1978: 1st round (lost to Conrad Daniels 3–6 legs)
- 1979: Quarter-finals (lost to Alan Evans 1–3 sets)
- 1980: Winner (beat Bobby George 5–3)
- 1981: Winner (beat John Lowe 5–3)
- 1982: 1st round (lost to Steve Brennan 0–2)
- 1983: Runner-up (lost to Keith Deller 5–6)
- 1984: Winner (beat Dave Whitcombe 7–1)
- 1985: Winner (beat John Lowe 6–2)
- 1986: Winner (beat Dave Whitcombe 6–0)
- 1987: Runner-up (lost to John Lowe 4–6)
- 1988: Semi-finals (lost to John Lowe 2–5)
- 1989: Runner-up (lost to Jocky Wilson 4–6)
- 1990: Runner-up (lost to Phil Taylor 1–6)
- 1991: Runner-up (lost to Dennis Priestley 0–6)
- 1992: 2nd round (lost to Martin Phillips 2–3)
- 1993: 2nd round (lost to Bob Anderson 0–3)
=PDC=
Bristow's PDC results are as follows:
- 1994: Group Stage (lost to Rod Harrington 1–3 & beat Sean Downs 3–2)
- 1995: Group Stage (lost to Rod Harrington 0–3 & lost to Shayne Burgess 0–3)
- 1996: Group Stage (lost to Dennis Priestley 0–3 & beat Richie Gardner 3–2)
- 1997: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 4–5 & lost 3rd Place Match to Peter Evison 2–4)
- 1998: Group Stage (lost to Dennis Priestley 0–3 & lost to Steve Raw 0–3)
- 1999: 1st round (lost to Peter Manley 0–3)
- 2000: 1st round (lost to Steve Brown 2–3)
Career finals
=BDO and WDF=
Bristow appeared in BDO and WDF major finals 31 times with a record of 22 wins and 9 runners-up.
| class="wikitable"
! Legend |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| World Championship (5–5) |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| World Masters (5–1) |
| style="background:#ffc;"
| British Professional (2–0) |
| style="background:#d0f0c0;"
| World Matchplay (2–0) |
| style="background:thistle"
| Grand Masters (5–1) |
| style="background:#9cf;"
| British Matchplay (3–2) |
| class="wikitable"
!width="80"| Outcome !width="20"| No. !width="50"| Year !style="width:280px;"| Championship !style="width:200px;"| Opponent in the final !width="70"| Score(l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets. |
| style="background:#9cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 1. | 1977 | British Matchplay (1) | {{flagicon|SCO}} Rab Smith | Unknown |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 1. | 1977 | Winmau World Masters (1) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Reynolds | 3–1 (s) |
| style="background:thistle"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 2. | 1977 | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe | 4–5 (s) |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 2. | 1979 | Winmau World Masters (1) | {{flagicon|CAN}} Allan Hogg | 2–0 (s) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 3. | 1980 | World Darts Championship (1) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Bobby George | 5–3 (s) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 4. | 1981 | World Darts Championship (2) | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe | 5–3 (s) |
| style="background:thistle"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 5. | 1981 | Butlins Grand Masters (1) | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe | Unknown |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 6. | 1981 | Winmau World Masters (3) | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe | 2–1 (s) |
| style="background:#9cf;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 7. | 1982 | British Matchplay (1) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Whitcombe | 2–0 (s) |
| style="background:thistle"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 8. | 1982 | Butlins Grand Masters (2) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Cliff Lazarenko | Unknown |
| style="background:#ffc;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 9. | 1982 | British Professional Championship (1) | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe | 7–3 (s) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 3. | 1983 | World Darts Championship (1) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Keith Deller | 5–6 (s) |
| style="background:#9cf;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 10. | 1983 | British Matchplay (2) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Keith Deller | 3–2 (s) |
| style="background:thistle"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 11. | 1983 | {{flagicon|SCO}} Jocky Wilson | 5–1 (s) |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 12. | 1983 | Winmau World Masters (4) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Mike Gregory | 2–1 (s) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 13. | 1984 | World Darts Championship (3) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Whitcombe | 7–1 (s) |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 14. | 1984 | Winmau World Masters (5) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Keith Deller | 3–1 (s) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 15. | 1985 | World Darts Championship (4) | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe | 6–2 (s) |
| style="background:thistle"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 16. | 1985 | Butlins Grand Masters (4) | {{flagicon|AUS}} Terry O'Dea | 5–3 (s) |
| style="background:#d0f0c0;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 17. | 1985 | MFI World Matchplay (1) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Bob Anderson | 5–4 (s) |
| style="background:#ffc;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 18. | 1985 | British Professional Championship (2) | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe | 7–4 (s) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 19. | 1986 | World Darts Championship (5) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Whitcombe | 6–0 (s) |
| style="background:#9cf;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 20. | 1986 | British Matchplay (3) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Whitcombe | 3–1 (s) |
| style="background:thistle"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 21. | 1986 | Butlins Grand Masters (5) | {{flagicon|CAN}} Bob Sinnaeve | Unknown |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 4. | 1987 | World Darts Championship (2) | {{flagicon|ENG}} John Lowe | 4–6 (s) |
| style="background:#9cf;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 5. | 1987 | British Matchplay (2) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Whitcombe | 0–3 (s) |
| style="background:#d0f0c0;"
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner | 22. | 1988 | MFI World Matchplay (2) | {{flagicon|CAN}} Bob Sinnaeve | 5–1 (s) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 6. | 1989 | World Darts Championship (3) | {{flagicon|SCO}} Jocky Wilson | 4–6 (s) |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 7. | 1989 | Winmau World Masters (1) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Evison | 2–3 (s) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 8. | 1990 | World Darts Championship (4) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Phil Taylor | 1–6 (s) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 9. | 1991 | World Darts Championship (5) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Dennis Priestley | 0–6 (s) |
=WDF=
Bristol appeared in WDF major finals 6 times with 4 titles and 2 runners-up.
| class="wikitable"
! Legend |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| World Cup (4–0) |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| Europe Cup (0–2) |
| class="sortable wikitable"
!width="80"| Outcome !width="20"| No. !width="50"| Year !style="width:250px;"| Championship !style="width:200px;"| Opponent in the final !width="70"| Score |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 1. | 1980 | Europe Cup Singles (1) | {{Flagicon|ENG}} Tony Brown | ?–? |
| style="background:#dfe2e9;"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up | 2. | 1982 | Europe Cup Singles (2) | {{Flagicon|ENG}} Bobby George | 0–4 |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner | 1. | 1983 | World Cup Singles (1) | {{Flagicon|SCO}} Jocky Wilson | 4–2 (l) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner | 2. | 1985 | World Cup Singles (2) | {{Flagicon|USA}} Tony Payne | 4–2 (l) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner | 3. | 1987 | World Cup Singles (3) | {{Flagicon|CAN}} Bob Sinnaeve | ?–? (l) |
| style="background:#e5d1cb;"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner | 4. | 1989 | World Cup Singles (4) | {{Flagicon|IRE}} Jack McKenna | ?–? (l) |
=Independent major finals=
Bristow appeared in independent major finals 2 times and won 2 titles.
| class="sortable wikitable"
!style="width:80px;"| Outcome !style="width:20px;"| No. !style="width:50px;"| Year !style="width:250px;"| Championship !style="width:200px;"| Opponent in the final !style="width:70px;"| Score |
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner
| 1. | 1983 | News of the World Championship (1) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Ralph Flatt | 2–0 (l) |
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner
| 2. | 1984 | News of the World Championship (2) | {{flagicon|ENG}} Ian Robertson | 2–0 (l) |
Note
{{reflist|group=Note}}
Performance timeline
Bristow's performance timeline is as follows:
| class="wikitable" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tournament | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background:#efefef;" | {{Nowrap|BDO World Championship}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |NYF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" |QF | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" |F | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" |F | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" |F | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" |F | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" |F | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |2R | colspan="7" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |No longer a BDO Member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| style="background:#efefef;" | Winmau World Masters
| style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |3R | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" |QF | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" |QF | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |4R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |4R | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" |QF | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" |F | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |4R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |4R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |4R | colspan="8" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |Did not participate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| style="background:#efefef;" | British Professional
| colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |Not held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | colspan="12" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |Not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| style="background:#efefef;" | MFI World Matchplay
| colspan="7" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |Not held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" |QF | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | colspan="12" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |Not held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| style="background:#efefef;" | PDC World Championship
| colspan="17" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |Not yet founded | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |RR | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |RR | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |RR | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |RR | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| style="background:#efefef;" | World Matchplay
| colspan="17" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |Not yet founded | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" |1R | style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |DNP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| style="background:#efefef;" | News of the World
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |??? | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | style="text-align:center; background:lime;" |W | colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |??? | colspan="6" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |Not held | style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |DNP | colspan="3" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;" |Not held |
{{TournLegend|RU=F|LR3=Prel.}}
High averages
{{See also|High dart average}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ Eric Bristow televised high averages ! Average ! Date ! Opponent ! Tournament ! Stage ! Score ! Ref. |
| 105.30
| 17 September 1983 | {{Flagicon|ENG}} Alan Glazier | British Professional Championship | Last 32 | 3–0 (S) | |
| 103.24
| 22 October 1983 | {{Flagicon|SCO}} Jocky Wilson | Final | 4–2 (L) | |
| 101.16
| 8 December 1984 | {{Flagicon|ENG}} Keith Deller | Final | 3–1 (S) | |
| 99.66
| 11 January 1985 | {{Flagicon|ENG}} Dave Whitcombe | Semi-finals | 5–2 (S) | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.DartsDatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=1541 Eric Bristow's profile and stats on Darts Database]
- [http://www.dartn.de/Bristow_Dokumentation_Arrows Arrows – A John Samson documentary about Eric Bristow (1979)]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180406101805/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba409af6f Eric Bristow] at the British Film Institute
- {{IMDb name|1125408}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{succession box|
| title=World record highest televised average
| before = Bobby George
| years = 17 September 1983 – 5 December 1991
| after = Phil Taylor
}}
{{s-end}}
{{World Darts Championship (BDO)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bristow, Eric}}
Category:BDO world darts champions
Category:British Darts Organisation players
Category:Darts players with dartitis
Category:English darts players
Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire
Category:People educated at Hackney Downs School
Category:People from Hackney Central
Category:People from Stoke Newington
Category:Professional Darts Corporation founding players
Category:Professional Darts Corporation Hall of Fame