Eric Bristow MBE

DoB: 27 April 1957
Nickname: Crafty Cockney
Lives: Leek, Staffordshire
World Championship titles: 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986

"Eric, the Crafty Cockney, has also enjoyed great success, and who is to say that he would not have added to his five World Championship wins had he not done so well in bringing Phil Taylor through!"

Bristow won five world titles in his career, the first one coming 25 years ago. Bristow, a five-time World Masters champion, is involved on both sides of the camera in his role with Sky Sports, and he came close to a return to the World Championship when he took part in the qualifiers last December.

The Crafty Cockney remains one of the great characters in the game's history, and he played a vital role in the development of Phil Taylor, who has since succeeded Bristow in dominating the world of professional darts