In 1985, Eric Bristow, known as “The Crafty Cockney,” was at the absolute pinnacle of his career, solidifying his status as the undisputed king of darts. He clinched his fourth World Professional Darts Championship title in just six years, dominating the final against rival John Lowe with a commanding 6-2 victory. This historic win, marked by an astonishing 14 maximums (180s) in the final, not only rewrote the record books but also cemented Bristow’s legacy as one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. For anyone interested in darting greatness, 1985 was Eric Bristow’s year, a true masterclass in skill, confidence, and sheer dominance.
Eric Bristow’s Unstoppable Reign: The 1985 Embassy World Championship
Often, great talents, like fine wine, improve with age. This was certainly true for the darts phenomenon Eric Bristow in 1985. As the number one seed, he reaffirmed his position as the world’s top-ranked player for an incredible fifth consecutive year. His performance at the Embassy World Professional Championships was a masterclass in darting prowess, culminating in a crushing victory over the number two seed, John Lowe, at the iconic Jollees showclub in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Grand Final: Bristow vs. Lowe
Any hopes John Lowe harbored of lifting the impressive new Embassy trophy – the old one having been permanently awarded to Bristow for his three previous wins – were shattered by “The Crafty Cockney’s” dominant display. Bristow handed Lowe a decisive 6-2 defeat, securing his fourth Embassy title in a remarkable six-year span. At just 27 years old, Bristow added yet another glorious chapter to darts history, firing an astounding 14 maximums (180s) during the final, played out before a captivated capacity audience.
After clinching his fourth title, Bristow’s ambition was clear: “I just want to be a winner — to be the greatest darts player ever.”
The Road to the Final: Upsets and Nail-biters
The eighth Embassy Championships kicked off eight days earlier, with 32 players battling for a share of the £43,000 prize money. The early rounds were, as usual, fraught with tension for the sport’s biggest names, many of whom flirted with early elimination.
First Round Shocks:
- The third seed, Mike Gregory, surprisingly crashed out 2-1 to Bobby George, marking the first major upset.
- Eighth seed Dave Lee, after a strong start, lost momentum against Belgian railway worker Luc Marreel.
- Welsh representatives Leighton Rees and Peter Locke were also unexpected first-round casualties.
Even top seeds Eric Bristow and John Lowe faced incredibly close calls, teetering on the brink of elimination in their respective nail-biting encounters. Eight more players joined the casualty list after the second round, their hopes of glory dashed for another year, though each left £1,000 richer.
Quarter-Final Highlights:
- Former champion John Lowe sent a clear warning to his opponents by “whitewashing” British Open champion John Cosnett. This one-sided match reportedly cost Cosnett a multi-thousand-pound sponsorship deal, including a car.
- Bobby George’s dazzling run, which saw him defeat Mike Gregory, was eventually ended by 50-1 tournament outsider Fred McMullan.
- Eric Bristow calmly dispatched Alan Glazier in his quarter-final match, continuing his steady march forward.
- In a thrilling clash between fourth and fifth seeds, Jocky Wilson and Dave Whitcombe, an astonishing 10 maximums were thrown. The match went to 3-3 before a decisive 180 from Whitcombe, his eighth, secured his semi-final spot.
- Even 11 x 180s from former champion Keith Deller and the then-highest checkout of the tournament (164) weren’t enough to stop an in-form John Lowe from reaching the semi-finals. Lowe showcased his precision with three bull finishes in his 4-2 success.
- On-song Cliff Lazarenko maintained his impressive record of not having lost a single set in the tournament, easily overcoming the resilient Fred McMullan.
The Semi-Final Showdowns
The semi-finals delivered high-stakes drama:
- Eric Bristow vs. Dave Whitcombe: Despite Whitcombe taking the opening set 3-0, Bristow quickly gained the upper hand in an absorbing, high-scoring, hour-long encounter. Both players averaged over 32 points per dart. Whitcombe, seeking revenge for the previous year’s final, threatened to cause an upset, but Bristow’s emphatic display confirmed his status as the number one seed, propelling him to his fourth final in six years.
- John Lowe vs. Cliff Lazarenko: Spurred on by a 164 checkout – matching Keith Deller’s earlier feat – John Lowe powered through to the final with a resounding 5-3 victory. This marathon match lasted 105 minutes and involved 36 legs, showcasing both players’ endurance and skill.
The Final Act: A Near Nine-Dart Finish and Bristow’s Triumph
The final began cautiously, with both players probing for an advantage. Bristow’s superior double-play earned him the first set, 3-1. Early in the second set, with Bristow leading 2-1, there was talk of a potential 6-0 whitewash for Lowe. However, the spirited 1979 champion fought back, claiming the final two legs and the set.
Hopes of a Lowe revival were further ignited by a brilliant 170 checkout in the fourth game of the following set. This not only earned him £1,000 for the tournament’s top checkout but also saw him announce he would donate the prize money to the Ethiopian famine appeal – a truly commendable gesture.
Bristow, “The Crafty Cockney,” responded with his characteristic arrogance, annexing the next six legs and two sets. Firing out four 180s in the process, he left a shell-shocked John Lowe trailing 3-2 as the players took a short break, despite Lowe having started the final so well.
Bristow opened the sixth set by securing his seventh consecutive winning leg. Lowe managed to capture the next two legs, leveling the set at 2-2. Throwing first in the deciding leg, Eric Bristow fired out a maximum (180), and a murmur of expectation rippled through the Jollees hall. He stepped up to the oche and fired his 14th maximum of the final, setting himself up for a potential nine-dart checkout – a feat that would have earned him a staggering £52,000 jackpot.
Sensing the enormity of the moment, Bristow paused, looked down briefly, and composed himself before throwing his first dart. The electronic scoreboard flashed ’60’. The audience held its breath as the impassive Bristow quickly threw his second dart. A faint smile flickered across his face, but it quickly faded – his second dart, aimed at treble 19, was off course, firmly embedded in the single seven segment. The dream of the perfect game was over.
A strange anti-climax settled over the arena after Bristow’s near miss. Both players struggled to regain their rhythm in the following set, which Bristow eventually won 3-2, needing just three more legs to claim the Embassy title. Bristow edged to a 2-1 lead, only for Lowe to respond with a 14-dart checkout, leveling the scores.
With the advantage of throwing first in the deciding leg, Bristow opened confidently with a 140, while Lowe uncharacteristically scored just 45. Subsequent scores of 99, 100, and 130 left Bristow on his favorite 32, with Lowe stranded on 156. Patting the darts in his left hand, Bristow moved to the oche, his stare fixed on the double 16 segment. He took aim and fired his first dart. Bristow remained perfectly still, showing no emotion as the dart grazed the outer wire.
Quickly, he fired a second dart, placing it just a quarter of an inch to the right of the tiny green segment. The electronic scoreboard flickered, confirming the dart had found its mark. The crowd erupted, and a victorious Bristow flung his arms to the sky in a moment of pure, unadulterated celebration.
This unforgettable match was originally published in Darts World Magazine 147 (February 1986).
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
