Darts icon Eric Bristow urged his own dad to bet against him in World Championship final
dailystar.co.ukdarting legend.The previously little known qualifier from Ipswich stunned the all-conquering player of the 1980s, clinching the title with a stunning 138 finish.
It was the highlight of Deller’s career and he continues to be known as the ‘138 man’ to many. But there are a number of fascinating backstories to that final, including one of Bristow’s father, George, betting on Deller to win throughout that tournament.George Bristow was a regular at his son’s tournaments and often bumped into Deller at the 1983 event, held at the Jollees venue in Stoke.
Deller, by his own admission, was feeling extremely confident, regularly predicting victories over his next opponents. Little did he know at the time, but George Bristow was taking heed by piling money on him to progress.“Me and Eric became great friends and he told me a few years later,” Deller told The Darts Podcast. “He said ‘my dad was having a bet on you every day’.
He was putting 20 pounds on because I always about 5/1, 6/1."Deller defeated darts legends John Lowe and Jocky Wilson in the quarter-finals and semi-finals to set up a meeting with Bristow junior, leaving Bristow senior with a tricky dilemma. What's your favourite darts moment of all time?
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