“Then the macho posturing came out, it made no sense” – Vincent van der Voort looks back on clash with Eric Bristow

Vincent van der Voort has reflected in the podcast Darts Draait Door on a striking clash with darts legend Eric Bristow. The Dutchman faced the now-deceased Englishman during his career and won that match 3-0. Yet the contest was anything but forgettable. According to Van der Voort, Bristow’s outspoken character resurfaced afterwards and a peculiar situation unfolded between the two players.

Van der Voort met Bristow in the twilight of the latter’s career. “I won that match 3-0 and he was clearly not happy about it,” said Van der Voort. Where many players would congratulate the opponent after a defeat or wrap things up without many words, Bristow approached it rather differently.

The former world champion was known in his pomp for his forthright personality and sharp remarks. After the match against Van der Voort, he did not, according to the Dutchman, fade quietly into the background. “He produced no level at all during the match. Afterwards he even started insulting me as well.”

Van der Voort initially did not want to reveal exactly what Bristow said to him. The Dutchman himself is also known for speaking his mind when something happens on or around the oche, but in this case he preferred restraint. “I didn’t respond,” Van der Voort laughed. “But he still had that big mouth he always had.”

That naturally created an intriguing dynamic between two players from very different backgrounds. Van der Voort built a career-long reputation as someone not easily intimidated, while Bristow relished confrontation. Even so, Van der Voort, with a wink, stressed he was hardly the wisest sparring partner for Bristow.

“And you know me, I don’t have a big mouth,” Van der Voort said with irony. When podcast host Damian Vlottes pressed him, Van der Voort offered a bit more context. “I told him: it’s easy to become world champion if, in that era, you average 80. Although I should admit the trebles and doubles on the boards were much smaller back then.”

Years later, Van der Voort can laugh heartily about the whole incident. “It was just a bit of alpha posturing, nothing more.”

Eric Bristow became a five-time world champion with the BDO. In 2018, he died at the age of 60 from a heart attack.