Eric Bristow was one of the best professional darts players to ever live. From the start of his career in 1968, when he was just 11 years old, he continued to dominate the sport, achieving his best runs in the 1980s when he won five championships, three masters and several other championships. . After a successful career, he retired in 2007 and became a commentator on Sky Sports Darts coverage until his death in 2018.
The Life of Eric Bristow – Biography
It was as Eric John Bristow that the former darts player was born on April 25, 1957 in Hackney, London. While George, her father, was a plasterer, Pamela, her mother worked as a telephone operator.
When he was 11 years old, Eric received his first set of darts from his father who, unsurprisingly, also played a little darts. Shortly after receiving the painting, he became a popular face in the pubs where he went to play. Before playing darts, his father took him to play golf, pool and billiards, which young Eric did not show the success he recorded with darts.
Described as the first superstar darts player, Eric’s early life was dominated by the sports he would be known for. Although he went to school, he said he quit when he was only 14. At the time, he had already started playing darts professionally. By the age of 15, he was already making more money as a darts player than he made with the advertising agency he worked with as a proofreader. At the age of 16, he quit his job to settle for darts.
He won his first World Masters in 1977 and the next in 1979. By 1980, Eric Bristow had already had his first World Championship, beginning a reign that would see him dominate the sport for the entire decade and many years to come. In 1981 he won both a World Masters and a World Championship, a feat he would repeat again in 1985.
By the time he retired in 2007, Bristow had already had five World Masters under his belt and no less than 22 World Darts Federation titles. He also made the semi-finals of the World Championship in 1997. He remained the world No. 1 in darts in the world rankings from 1980 to 1987.
After winning his three consecutive World Championships from 1984 to 1986, he was awarded the original trophy to keep. Although not much in terms of monetary value, he described it as his most prized possession.
Looking at his personal life, the legendary darts player first had a long relationship with Maureen Flowers who was also an excellent darts player. The two stayed together from 1978 to 1987 before going their separate ways. In 1989 he married Jane Bristow with whom he remained for the next 16 years after which the union ended in divorce in 2005. Prior to the divorce, Eric and Jane had two children; Louisa and James.
Although the former darts player was charged with assaulting his wife, the charges were later dropped. The next woman he dated was Rebecca Gadd, whom he remained with until his death. The two met in 2011 at a darts event.
His death – How did he die?
Just as he lived most of his life darts, he also passed away around the sport on April 5, 2018 in Liverpool where he was attending a Premier League Darts event. After he finished playing, he was returning to his car when he collapsed before being taken to hospital. Unfortunately, he didn’t succeed. The cause of death is a fatal heart attack.
What was his net worth?
At the age of 14 he had to drop out of school to pursue what he described as his future in the game of darts, many told him to just get on his knees and earn a living. With time as a witness, he had indeed made a living, looking at all his accomplishments.
Years before his death, Eric Bristow pointed out that he did not believe in becoming the richest man in the cemetery, and so he made millions and spent them too. That said, his net worth at the time of his death is not known. However, there is no reason to believe that he was not doing very well.