1983 BDO World Darts Championship

The 1983 Embassy World Darts Championship was staged at Jollees Cabaret Club in Stoke-on-Trent from 1–8 January 1983.

Embassy World Darts Championship
Tournament information
Dates	1–8 January 1983
Venue	Jollees Cabaret Club
Location	Stoke-on-Trent
Country	England
Organisation(s)	BDO
Format	Sets Final – best of 11
Prize fund	£33,050
Winner's share	£8,000
High checkout	161 Jocky Wilson
Champion(s)
Keith Deller
«1982 1984»

The tournament saw one of the World Darts Championship's biggest upsets, when Keith Deller defeated Eric Bristow, by 6 sets to 5 in the final, to become the youngest ever World Darts Champion and the first qualifier to win the World Championship.

Deller also beat world number 3, John Lowe in the quarter-finals and defending champion and world number 2, Jocky Wilson in the semi-finals, making him the only player in history to defeat the world's top three ranked players in the World Championship.

The final featured one of darts' most memorable moments, when Bristow was left on 121. Having hit single 17 and then treble 18, Bristow decided against hitting the bullseye. Instead he hit a single 18 to leave double 16, whilst Deller was on 138. Deller had already missed seven darts at a double to win the title in the ninth set, when leading 5-3 and Bristow believed his opponent would not check out the high finish. However, Deller hit treble 20, followed by treble 18 and finally finished on double 12 to win the title. To this day commentators often refer to 138 as the "Deller checkout" if a player is left with that score.

Seeds

1. Eric Bristow
2. John Lowe
3. Jocky Wilson
4. Stefan Lord
5. Bobby George
6. Cliff Lazarenko
7. Nicky Virachkul
8. Dave Whitcombe

Prize money

The prize fund was £32,300.

Champion: £8,000

Runner-Up: £3,500

3rd Place: £500

Semi-Finalists (2): £1,750

Quarter-Finalists (4): £1,200

Last 16 (8): £700

Last 32 (16): £400

There was also a 9 Dart Checkout prize of £30,000, along with a High Checkout prize of £750. In the semi final, Jocky Wilson missed double 18 for the 9 dart finish.

The Results

	First Round (best of 3 sets)					Second Round (best of 5 sets)					Quarter-Finals (best of 7 sets)					Semi-Finals (best of 9 sets)					Final (best of 11 sets)
	1	Eric Bristow (85.80)	2
		Peter Masson (81.30)	1
						1	Eric Bristow (96.00)	3
							Dave Lee (88.50)	2
		Dave Lee (85.20)	2
		Tony Holyoake (75.60)	1
											1	Eric Bristow (93.00)	4
											8	Dave Whitcombe (87.30)	3
	8	Dave Whitcombe (84.00)	2
		Andy Green (75.90)	1
						8	Dave Whitcombe (86.10)	3
							Tony Ridler (85.20)	2
		Tony Ridler (75.30)	2
		Finn Jensen (68.70)	1
																1	Eric Bristow (87.60)	5
																	Tony Brown (84.60)	1
	5	Bobby George (73.50)	0
		Tony Brown (74.70)	2
							Tony Brown (82.20)	3
							Jerry Umberger (81.00)	0
		Jerry Umberger (74.70)	2
		Alan Glazier (69.30)	0
												Tony Brown (83.10)	4
											4	Stefan Lord (82.20)	1
	4	Stefan Lord (80.10)	2
		Kevin Mullaney (75.30)	1
						4	Stefan Lord (73.80)	3
							Luc Marreel (72.60)	0
		Luc Marreel (82.80)	2
		Ceri Morgan (81.90)	0
																					1	Eric Bristow (93.90)	5
																						Keith Deller (90.00)	6
	2	John Lowe (97.20)	2
		Alan Evans (86.40)	0
						2	John Lowe (87.60)	3
							Terry O'Dea (86.40)	2
		Terry O'Dea (87.60)	2
		Peter Locke (83.10)	0
											2	John Lowe (87.30)	3
												Keith Deller (86.40)	4
	7	Nicky Virachkul (82.50)	1
		Keith Deller (85.20)	2
							Keith Deller (91.20)	3
							Les Capewell (80.10)	1
		Les Capewell (76.20)	2
		Stuart Holden (76.20)	1
																	Keith Deller (85.50)	5
																3	Jocky Wilson (85.80)	3
	6	Cliff Lazarenko (89.10)	2
		Leighton Rees (84.30)	0
						6	Cliff Lazarenko (83.70)	3
							Paul Lim (76.50)	1
		Paul Lim (70.80)	2
		Tony Skuse (69.00)	0
											6	Cliff Lazarenko (81.30)	2
											3	Jocky Wilson (86.70)	4
	3	Jocky Wilson (76.50)	2
		Steve Brennan (78.60)	0
						3	Jocky Wilson (79.20)	3
							Kevin White (80.10)	0
		Kevin White (79.20)	2
		Rab Smith (75.60)	1

(Bristow) played the percentage shot. Living dangerous, Bristow - he's banking on Deller not doing this. But the shot's on for the title. Double 12 for the title..... I am telling ya, I'm telling ya, I've seen nothing like it in my life. Keith Deller of Ipswich, 23 years old, he had to qualify to get here. Bristow did a percentage shot, Deller did the business. He's now the World Champion!

BBC commentator Sid Waddell describes the 138 finish that gave Keith Deller the 1983 World Title

Third Place Match

• Jocky Wilson (3) 2–0 Tony Brown

References