Darts legend Eric Bristow has passed away at the age of 60.
The five-time world champion died Thursday evening after suffering a suspected heart attack.
Bristow, who won a total of 70 career titles overall, will go down in history as one of the sport’s greatest, having been inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame in 2005.
It is with great sadness that we bring you the news that five-time World Champion Eric Bristow has passed away, aged 60.
➡️ https://t.co/AmrpVL6NPq pic.twitter.com/fmkmg0CR2i
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 5, 2018
A PDC statement read: “The Professional Darts Corporation is deeply saddened to announce that five-time World Champion Eric Bristow MBE passed away on Thursday evening following a heart attack.
“Arguably the sport’s first superstar player, Bristow, 60, was World Champion five times between 1980-1986 and also won five World Masters titles during an outstanding career.
“Bristow was one of the founder players when the PDC (then World Darts Council) was formed in 1993 as the sport’s leading stars broke away from the British Darts Organisation.”
The tragic news broke during Premier League Darts on Thursday night and immediately, the Liverpool Echo Arena crowd belted out a rendition of “there’s only one Eric Bristow.”
PDC Chairman Barry Hearn led the tributes to Bristow, stating: “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.”
