Eric Bristow, the legendary darts player and five-time world champion, has died aged 60, the Professional Darts Corporation has announced.
Bristow was at the Liverpool Echo Arena watching the Premier League darts when he collapsed, and was later confirmed dead after suffering a heart attack.
When the news broke of his passing, fans at the Echo Arena began singing “There’s only one Eric Bristow” in tribute to the player nicknamed the Crafty Cockney.
On stage, players Peter Wright and Daryl Gurney were also visibly upset on what turned into an emotional night.
The 60-year-old was inducted into the PDC hall of fame in 2005 and remained a popular figure amongst supporters of the sport, also working as a TV pundit for Sky Sports and appearing on ITV show I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here in 2012.
Bristow was awarded an MBE for his services to the sport in 1989, having won five world championships in a blistering spell of dominance between 1980 and 1986, as well as five world Masters titles.
PDC chairman Barry Hearn paid tribute to the late Bristow: “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.”
In Liverpool Keith Deller, the 1983 world champion who defeat Bristow in the final, said on stage: “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.”