Eric Bristow, darts’ first true superstar and a five-time World Champion, faced a devastating challenge that few understood: “dartitis.” Often compared to “the yips” in other sports, this mysterious condition made him unable to release his darts properly, threatening to end his glorious career. This article explores how dartitis impacted Bristow’s game, his desperate attempts to overcome it, and how his struggle inadvertently led him to mentor a young Phil Taylor, shaping the future of darts forever. Despite the adversity, Bristow’s resilience and his pivotal role in founding the PDC cemented a legacy far beyond his trophies.
Understanding Dartitis: The Darts Player’s ‘Yips’
When sports legends suddenly lose the ability to perform basic actions they’ve mastered, it’s often attributed to a mysterious condition. In golf, it’s called ‘the yips’; in darts, it’s known as dartitis. This baffling neurological condition causes involuntary muscle spasms or hesitation, preventing players from smoothly releasing the dart. For Eric Bristow, the “Crafty Cockney” and a man who seemingly had nerves of steel, it became his most formidable opponent.
The Reign of the Crafty Cockney
In the 1980s, Eric Bristow wasn’t just a darts player; he was the face of the sport. Effortlessly cool, a natural showman, he was the benchmark for every aspiring player. With five World Championship titles, five World Masters, and countless other victories, Bristow put darts on the map, becoming a household name and a national celebrity. His dominance seemed unbreakable, culminating in his fifth World Championship win in 1986, where he whitewashed Dave Whitcombe.
The Unseen Threat Begins
However, this peak proved to be the beginning of a tragic decline. Bristow himself recalled first experiencing dartitis at the Swedish Open in November 1986, finding himself unable to properly let go of the dart. Yet, looking back, the warning signs had been subtly present for years. His once fluid throwing motion, particularly the pull-back, had gradually slowed, developing a pronounced pause that was uncharacteristic of his natural rhythm.
Despite these internal battles, Bristow continued to achieve success, reaching the 1987 World Championship final. But for astute observers and, crucially, his fellow players, it was clear that something was deeply wrong. In 1987, for the first time since 1979, Bristow failed to win a single major title, a stark indicator of the condition’s growing grip.
A Desperate Fight for Survival
With his livelihood and his beloved game on the line, Bristow embarked on a desperate quest to overcome dartitis. He tried everything imaginable:
- He consulted psychologists and hypnotists.
- He even took up fly fishing, believing the arm movement might retrain his throwing action.
But nothing seemed to work. The struggle took a heavy toll, causing him to withdraw and lose hope. His partner at the time, Maureen Flowers, later spoke of the immense difficulty of living with him during this period, highlighting the profound personal impact of the condition.
A New Hope: Mentoring Phil Taylor
It was Maureen Flowers who proposed an idea that would inadvertently shape the future of darts. She suggested Bristow sponsor an emerging talent, providing him with a practice partner and a much-needed focus outside his own struggles. That talent was a young man from Stoke-on-Trent: Phil Taylor.
Bristow, who had moved to Stoke and opened his pub, “The Crafty Cockney,” recognised Taylor’s immense potential immediately. Starting in 1988, he began sponsoring Taylor, covering tournament entry fees, travel, and accommodation – an investment of around £10,000. Bristow’s mentorship was invaluable:
- He taught Taylor “tricks of the trade,” focusing on finishing and different scoring strategies.
- Crucially, Bristow instilled a relentless winning mentality, chastising Taylor after every defeat and accepting nothing less than victory.
This intense mentorship forged the mindset that would propel Phil Taylor to become the greatest darts player of all time.
The Resilient Champion: Battling On
The act of mentoring seemed to offer Bristow a temporary reprieve. He reached another World Championship final in 1989, facing his old rival Jocky Wilson in an epic encounter. Despite Wilson taking a commanding 5-0 lead, Bristow fought back valiantly to make it 5-4 before eventually losing 6-4. While his throw still showed signs of dartitis – with visible snatching and involuntary body movements – it was a remarkable display of resilience. That same year, he briefly regained the world number one ranking and won the World Cup Singles for a fourth time.
The early 1990s saw Bristow reach two more World Championship finals, serving as symbolic “passing-of-the-torch” moments. In the 1990 final, he faced his protégé, Phil Taylor. Despite being the favourite, Bristow couldn’t match Taylor’s burgeoning firepower, losing 6-1 as Taylor claimed his first of an incredible 16 World Championship titles. The following year, Bristow reached the final again, only to suffer a shocking 6-0 whitewash against underdog Dennis Priestley, a clear sign that dartitis was once again gaining the upper hand.
Shaping the Future: The PDC Revolution
By the mid-1990s, Bristow’s playing form had significantly declined, leading to him being dropped from both county and national teams – a humiliating experience for a five-time World Champion. However, he had a more critical role to play: spearheading the split from the British Darts Organisation (BDO).
Bristow was a key figure among the players who risked everything – financial ruin and legal battles – to form the World Darts Council (WDC), which later became the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). This bold move laid the foundation for the professional darts landscape we know today, and Bristow’s courage was instrumental in its success.
The Unforgettable Swansong: 1997 World Championship
Despite his crucial role in founding the PDC, Bristow struggled to compete consistently in its early events. Yet, at the 1997 World Championship, a decade after his last major triumph, he produced a memorable resurgence. As a rank outsider, he battled his way to the semi-finals, setting up a highly anticipated clash with his former protégé, the dominant Phil Taylor.
The atmosphere at the Circus Tavern was electric, with the crowd overwhelmingly behind the beloved underdog, Bristow. Taylor later admitted it was the most hostile environment he had ever played in, his throwing hand visibly shaking. Bristow’s throw, for a brief period, looked remarkably smoother, almost as if he had finally conquered dartitis. He even produced an incredible 141 checkout to “hang in” (as commentator Sid Waddell famously exclaimed), forcing a deciding set. Though Taylor ultimately won 5-3 in a tie-break, Bristow’s performance was a testament to his enduring greatness and resilience in the face of adversity.
The Final Years and Enduring Legacy
While Bristow continued playing for a few more years, his form never truly returned. His competitive career ended in 2000, after which he transitioned into a successful role as a pundit and spotter for Sky Sports, and continued to entertain fans on the exhibition circuit.
In his later years, particularly during a brief return to televised play in the 2008 Betfred League of Legends, it became painfully clear that dartitis had worsened, transforming his throw into a tangle of twitches and hesitations. It was a sad sight for those who remembered his effortless dominance.
Eric Bristow passed away in 2018 at the age of 60. While he is rightly remembered for his five World Championships, his swagger, and his pivotal role in shaping modern darts, his greatest legacy may be even more profound. Bristow’s struggle with dartitis proved that this baffling condition could affect even the very best. For anyone who has faced similar challenges, his story is a powerful testament to resilience, adaptation, and refusing to let an unexplained struggle define you. That, more than any trophy, is a legacy truly worthy of remembering.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
