Van der Voort pays tribute to Bristow: ‘Without him the sport of darts would have looked different’

The news that Eric Bristow passed away Thursday night came totally unexpected, also for Vincent van der Voort. 'The Dutch Destroyer' reacted with disbelief after the announcement was officially made.

"It is still a bit unreal", Van der Voort acknowledges a day later in conversation with Dartsnews.com. He was not sick, that made the shock a bigger one. Everyone knows Bristow, he was a celebrity in the sport of darts. He made darts very popular in the 1980s. He was very outspoken, a real character. Everyone wanted to see Bristow, together with Bobby George he brought life into the sport. "
"In principle you can compare it with what Johan Cruijff did for Dutch football. First, darts was just throwing a few arrows at the board, he made a show of it. Because of his character Eric made darts more interesting for everyone. "
The 42-year-old Dutchman himself also keeps some nice memories of the 60-year-old darts legend. Van der Voort played Bristow once at a darts tournament, but played regularly at exhibition tournaments with him. When the Londoner took part in a popular TV program in the United Kingdom, 'Fast Vinnie' was glued to the TV.
"I always liked him, I thought his character was beautiful. In the past he also participated in the program 'I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here' in England. I did not follow that program, but when he joined it I watched it every time. He is a beautiful guy, always says what he thinks. He was right in front of him and I can. "
"I used to play against him once. It must have been in the nineties, when he suffered a lot from dartitis. After that I experienced many remarkable things with him. I played exhibitions with him, I often had a laugh with him. "
On social media there are already many voices to mention a tournament or gala to Bristow. The cup of the PDC World Championship is named after former commentator Sid Waddell. After the farewell of Phil Taylor it was announced that the trophy from the World Matchplay was named after 'The Power'.
Van der Voort agrees with the proposal to also name something about 'The Crafty Cockney'. "I agree with that. Eric was the very first to put darts on the map. Without him the sport of darts would have looked different. I think he should get something, so he stays in memory forever. He is too big to not do anything with it. "
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