Five-time world darts champion Eric Bristow dies aged 60

Five-time world darts champion Eric Bristow has died at the age of 60.

Bristow was at the Premier League Darts event at Liverpool’s Echo Arena when he suffered a heart attack.

Fans at the Echo Arena burst into a rendition of “There’s only one Eric Bristow” after being told he had died.

Bristow, who was born in east London and was known as the Crafty Cockney, has been called a “tremendous player and a huge character” who was “honest and straightforward”.

One of darts’ first superstar players, he won his five titles as a player in the British Darts Organisation, dominating the sport between 1980 and 1986.

During his career, he also won five world masters titles.

Bristow was one of the founder players when the PDC was formed in 1993 as some of the sport’s leading stars broke away from the British Darts Organisation.

The 60-year-old was inducted into the PDC hall of fame in 2005 alongside close rival John Lowe.

Since retiring from competition at the end of 2007, he remained a popular figure on the exhibition circuit.

PDC chairman Barry Hearn said: “Eric will always be a legend in the world of darts and British sport.

“He was a tremendous player and a huge character and even after his retirement fans would travel for miles to meet him and see him play.

“Eric was never afraid of controversy, but he spoke as he found and was honest and straightforward which is what people admired about him.

“The PDC, and the sport of darts, will miss him.”

Keith Deller, who became the world champion in 1983 after beating Bristow, said at a Premier League fixture in Liverpool: “I’m devastated, me and Eric were together all the time.

“What he’s done for our game, tonight, if it wasn’t for Eric, no one would be here tonight.”

He added: “It is a massive loss to our sport. He said what he thought and it was his honest opinion. Everyone loved Eric for that.”

Meanwhile, former world champion John Lowe said he had “lost a part of my life tonight”.

Bristow, who also worked as a TV pundit for Sky Sports, was awarded the MBE for his services to sport in 1989.

He also appeared on ITV’s jungle reality TV show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here in 2012.

(c) Sky News 2018: Five-time world darts champion Eric Bristow dies aged 60