Keith Deller v Eric Bristow - 1983 Embassy Darts - Final Leg

Keith Deller v Eric Bristow - 1983 Embassy Darts - Final Leg

[@njclondon2009]

Keith, this was your moment. You beat the top 3 BEST darts players in the world to win this. You didn't get lucky three times, for that fleeting moment you were UNDISPUTABLY the BEST darts player in the world. And absolutely no one can EVER take that away from you. Well done, sir.

[@mcfcguvnors]

eric played that % shot ,never understood why :D totally capable of the bull but that steve davies mentality kicked in = bull = possible 2 dart outshot= wasted dart lmao ,unreal ,what a game that was - when there was no HD n everyone sat glued to the telly satdy evening :)

[@Avidcomp]

14 years of age. After Christmas, I came down with a cold and didn't want to go back to school. So I stayed in bed and watched tv. This came on and I got right into it. Never heard of Keith Deller, but decided early on he was a new face and he seemed good, so I wanted him to win. I'd heard of Eric, and seen him a few times on the tv at my grandparents house, so he'd been my favourite by default. By the time it got to the final, I was elated and wanted Keith to win so much. Even my mum got into it through my own excitement. Contest over, it was back to school. From my paper round and car washing money, I went to the local sports shop where I usually bought my Subbuteo things, and bought a dartboard, and then became obsessed for a little while over what was the right kind of dart set for myself. I played all the time and progressed quite quickly. I even won a few games in the local pub. But I didn't like the smell of beer, or have much in common with the pub scene (I didn't drink). None of my friends were into it bar one (who died tragically young). I went to college and life went in another direction. But seeing this clip here feels as fresh as the moment it happened, and the joy at "my man" winning the prize.

[@imposs-up1hg]

Nice comment. Cheers for posting it.

[@kevinmassey7675]

Watching telly in bed , in 1983 ? Luxury.....It better have been a black n white portable ?

[@shellsbignumber2]

Pretty amazing that the138 out is still known as the Deller shot.

[@LesDuffy]

I watched this live as a 13 year old. I still remember it vividly! Awesome night.

[@sphericalempirical9359]

Being a x16 fiend myself, I would and have done the exact same thing, it’s all in the moment. Had the honour to meet them both and got to play Bristow. He was a top bloke, a great laugh a complete gent and LOVED a Guinness. He let me buy him one, under sufferance I might add, but he could see what it meant to me. Great memory, great photo, what a guy.

[@dokkenratt]

I was a 15 year old boy when i watched this but its still so fresh in my memory. I remember when the final dart went in, Cyrille (the old bloke next door) went absolutely nuts. The whole street could hear him :-D

[@SPARTA_EDITS_100]

I'm now 45 and that still sends shivers down my spine remembering it as a kid. Still great arrows.

[@flaviusconstantius9702]

Deller's Buster Douglas/Joe Johnson moment. Still the only darts player in history to beat the top three seeds en route to winning the world championship.

[@Fogon59]

Deller was the best in the world that day....He wasn't the day before, and wasn't ever again....But on that day he was!

[@hauntboy]

Yes, but he won it deservedly the hardest way, beating the top 3 seeds and the BIG THREE (along with Wilson & Lowe) in the 1/4s, semi and here in the final. RIP Eric, just died today. I'm sure Keith will be remembering this when he hears the news.

[@kevinstoneham1245]

I didn’t see the match, but always remember going to Spain that Summer and two kids I palled up with were banging on about this match. Loved it.

[@London2272]

One of those sporting moments in life you never forget.

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

I'm 51 but remember this as kid so clearly as I played a lot of darts at the time

[@LOLMAN9538]

And the fact that Ol' Reliable Sid Waddell called this match made it a whole lot better.

[@homethoughts1]

Thank you for posting this magic event and match. Although I'm not a darts player I was 23 when this final was played and I have yet to see a better match on TV. Keith played his socks off and it was great to see him win.

[@daynerpotter9514]

Good on you Keith, you brought the title to Suffolk 👏👏👏

[@mallyjoyplaneflighttv]

I remember watching this , amazing darts Keith 👍

[@thomasbroleen4241]

Just watched Keiths interview on Farage👏👏👏

[@groomys67]

.....and then you found your way here. Clever boy.

[@ian1970byrne]

To this day, Deller is the only man to beat the top three seeds in the tournement. Lowe in the 1/4ers, Wilson in the semis and Bristow in the final. If Deller had slotted his doubles at the time, he would have won this final 6-3, he had 6 darts at double 6 at 5-3 up to win the match. The only other player I can remember using spring loaded darts was Bob Anderson.

[@82kgamer]

had breakfast with the two of these men yesterday morning near the alli pally great laugh

[@TheLotusManFILMs.]

What did you eat?

[@christschinwon]

Fond memories watching this as a kid & seeing the dagger looks from them both as Deller started playing out of his skin!

[@ianchristopherson1973]

This is one of those moments where you can remember exactly where you where when it happens, our house in Dovecot Liverpool, when he hit the double my Dad jumped up in the air and smashed his head on the doorframe, hes only 5ft 6 but ill never forget it, i was 10 years old.

[@GOLLYSKYWOOD2]

One thing that all darts players learned from Bristow's mistake, was that if you have a dart in your hand for a winning double, and your opponent is on any finish, you must go for the double. You cannot bank on/assume that your opponent will miss. This applies at all levels of darts. Novices can still take out big finishes.

[@fallguystester6029]

he learned his lesson all right won the next 3 tittle in a row

[@RanxNL]

Tell that to Van Gerwen, he still has to learn

[@highjim7778]

remember watching this with my dear old nan when I was 6

[@jibsmokestack1]

I remember being a 6year old seeing my mum jumping up and down in joy after that checkout! She hated The Crafty Cockney! 😂

[@veravendetter]

this is the match that got me into darts. i was 10. whole family on the edge of their seats

[@TheEamoB]

Magic. What a sport!!

[@Bud1UK]

Incredible finish.

[@kawika5150]

always go for the win. he underestimated his opponent. now he'll never know if he would've hit the double bull.

[@steveharris3653]

maybe that 138 possibly the biggest checkout to win the world title. Bristow would have been gutted after he didn’t take on the bull finish 🎯!! great memories and the trebles actually look smaller!?

[@TiranosaurusRex2010]

Bristow screwed up big time. Totaly under-estimated Deller. It only tells you how important it is to shoot double Bull .... I

[@jtzdarts]

Met Eric in houston Texas back in early 90s

[@SMSJSC]

Well done Keith Deller, a great finish. But Bristol should have gone for the bull.

[@martinhe9663]

And now Eric is dead😣😓

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

I was proper into darts in them days. I remember the following year Bristow destroyed every opponent.

[@mrhob6355]

i thought Deller was the posterboy of darts ... but he showed his metal here ... against a larger than life Bristow ...

[@nr7432]

memories :-)

[@TheSupervillain316]

I still cite this to people as a reason you take a chance to end the game if the opponent has any kind of shot to

[@CelticSaint]

@veravendetter Good memories myself. Me and my dad going crazy. Mum knitting! lol

[@Liofa73]

Lol... I was 10, we were at my Nan's for a post New Year party. The telly was on all night, just because he was an East Anglian boy.

[@pof1991]

well done keith pride of ipswich

[@philmuggeson1849]

Just being able to tie your shoelaces correctly could make you pride of ipswich

[@noelmadden1920]

As good a leg of darts as most that are being thrown these days and the trebles not much more than half the size.

[@garywallace5602]

Can't blame Bristow for that finish...99% of other players would have done exactly the same!

[@JalandharShere]

No they wouldnt have lol. They only do that when opponent isnt on a finish

[@fallguystester6029]

that's about all he did unfortunately

[@matthiasbachetzky3085]

1:42 I would not say it was on purpose. Maybe he didnt see, that the second dart was in the T18. He still aimed for T18. Even if it would be on purpose, why should he start with 17 and T18? The 20 example was bad because it also would be still possible. But I mean his first two darts was a way for the bullseye. For a safe play, you could choose others.

[@squishypowers]

He went for triple 17 first, which would be 51, leaving 70. I think he then would have played 20, then bullseye. Instead he hit single 17, so that left 104. So then he went for triple 18 which was 54, which would leave bullseye again. However, as you saw, he didn't go for the bullseye and played it safe.

[@matthiasbachetzky3085]

@@squishypowers If he played safe, why should he even start like a bullseyefinnish? He could also throw T20 or something like that but he choose 17 and who choose 17, if you NOT use the bullseye? And his reaction 1:52 the left hand move (yes just a little bit to see) when he threw the last dart and then walks to the board was a very little bit confused. If he did not see the dart in T18 but in S18 it would make sense to throw the last one also in T18 or aiming there. I dont know if you got the first comment. I mean, that HE thought the dart was NOT in the T18 but in S18.

[@lewisgreen2957]

It looked like Eric threw single 17 single 18 treble 18 to leave 32 so it wasn’t a percentage shot

[@beasleycourt8873]

Despite winning 5 World titles Eric gets reminded of that percentage shot more than anything. It's funny how the greats are always remembered for their fantastic failures lol ..........

[@saccasantony4040]

What arrangonce from Bristow needed the bull and went and set up double 16 if he'd gone for the bull the138 check-out might never had been done sure Bristow had sleepless night over that choice of shot

[@johnmc3862]

Most costly mistake Bristow ever made.

[@daynerpotter9514]

When the King was dethroned lol 🤣🤣🤣

[@mikmac220]

Big mistake not going for the bullseye

[@delliamgames2901]

2:01

[@veravendetter]

anonymous darts team. lakeside raid

[@dmiller3537]

Chance for the title you take it , ridiculous decision by Bristow. Bottle job !!

[@mcfcguvnors]

possible 2 dart outshot by hitting 25 - stupidest decision he ever made that ....well n lending taylor the £££ to go pro !! :D

[@rayosullivan4398]

I watched lots of games from the 80s so many players going for wrong outs math was a major problem but you would think the game is all about numbers they they would have there act together

[@pipins3616]

6/0

[@ComeOnYouBoyzInBlue]

John lowe got a 9 darter on him ha

[@hauntboy]

True, but Deller became the first player in history to achieve a match average of 100 in the 1985 World Championship quarter-finals v Lowe.

[@-The-Mon]

@@hauntboy According to Wikipedia Bristow had 105 average in 1983

[@timk2240]

Before Lowe's double dart Deller showed with his hand to audiense to be quiet. Gentleman, like Gary Anderson today.

[@tomm5228]

Should have gone for bull, wasted dart, would’ve wasted a dart if gone for it

[@camfroghoofy]

Didn't Deller use sprung loaded shafts that used to tear up the dartboards ?

[@SMSJSC]

Yes, and he got a lot of bounce-outs. Can't for the life of me think what the advantages of such darts are.

[@virginsim8024]

Bristow got mugged off by his own arrogance

[@jontypiper9881]

He used to drink milk, I remember

[@padraigosullivan9979]

He was call the Milky Bar Kid

[@jontypiper9881]

@@padraigosullivan9979 I'd forgotten that! Top man 👍

[@bganonimouse2754]

True but he developed a beer belly a few years down the road!

[@jontypiper9881]

@@bganonimouse2754 who doesn't?!! 😂

[@bganonimouse2754]

@@jontypiper9881 You're not wrong, but mine's more of a food belly since I like my alcohol strong and short!

[@Paul180]

lol bristow put it away on 32 but deller finished 138. what a stupid bristow is. He could've had a world title. never take such risks when your opponent is on a finish.

[@JalandharShere]

he underestimated him. Deller was a qualifier. bristow took a risk and paid the price. but what a class finish by deller has to be said.

[@Paul180]

JalandharShere Yeah, really nice finish.

[@njclondon2009]

+Bboy Darts i know what you mean in many respects, but hindsight is easy when you or I are analysing this on tv sat on our ass. Bristow was right, there was a small chance deller made that, but he did, and that's why it's a classic sports moment. Thanks Keith and Eric for such a wonderful memory...

[@wen496]

138 under that pressure is pretty hard to do it goes in 1 out of 10 times and was a risk he was willing to take

[@sphericalempirical9359]

...”could’ve had a world title” You know your stuff don’t you. Bristow was 5 times World champion, you CLOWN.