By Dylan MacIsaac
The Crafty Cockney against the Iceman: a matchup that would shake the darting world more than a Gerwyn Price roar. Both players come with reputations as master manipulators, but whose mind games would prevail in this hypothetical clash?
On paper the career averages are not even close. The late Bristow averaged 85.19 over his whole career, over 10 points behind Price at 96.59. These ratings are skewed in terms of era and technology, with the former dominating the entire decade of the 1980s with stats that would barely compete with the lower-level tour players of today.
Darts in the 80s were significantly heavier and larger, and boards had thicker wires that were less conducive to high averages. Bristow’s checkout percentage hovered between 30%-40%, again a level below the norm today of between 40%-50%.
Of course, averages and stats are important, but they are far from the be all and end all, especially when it comes to deciding a one-off match.
We frequently see players lose with a higher average than their opponent, and it is the intangibles such as mental toughness, calmness under pressure and timing that truly separates the good from the great. These are what make the thought of this encounter such an enticing proposition.
Both players ooze confidence on the oche, but they go about their business in entirely different ways. Bristow’s demeanour was very calm, getting into opponent’s heads with his unshakeable focus and subtle tactics to put off the other player.
He would seldom break the rules, but he would certainly bend them. The signature ploy of standing as close to his opponent during their throw as he was allowed was a simple but incredibly effective intimidation tactic that no doubt unnerved many a player throughout his career.
Intimidation is also at the forefront of Price’s game, but he leaves the murky waters of gamesmanship behind for a full-blown performance on stage. His deafening roars and expressive body language turn an already imposing figure into a downright terrifying one for his fellow players. With shades of Mighty Michael Van Gerwen in his celebrations, it is no surprise that the former World Champion has garnered the success that he has.
Unfortunately for Price, the potential to crumble when he faces players like Bristow has been proved time and time again. His infamous entrance wearing ear defenders to drown out the crowd during his 2023 World Championship quarterfinal defeat to Gabriel Clemens highlights his tendency to allow external factors to impact his game, and Bristow’s antics would almost certainly derail him.
The crowd has often proved his toughest opponent, with his lone World Championship triumph coming in 2021 when no fans were allowed in the venue due to Covid-19 restrictions, and he has failed to progress past the quarterfinals since.
This is where the Crafty Cockney’s level-head would serve him well. Bristow never came to the oche worried about who he was playing – he believed he was going to beat everyone. He once claimed, “I have two bowls of confidence for breakfast each morning”.
No one believed more in Eric Bristow than himself, and whether you call it cockiness or confidence you cannot question its effectiveness. This self-belief led him to five world titles, and he is rightly remembered as one of the greats of the game.
All these factors create so many questions that we would love to have had the opportunity to see answered. Would Price be able to handle the pressure? Would Bristow be able to keep up with modern scoring? All we know is that these two players would be the perfect catalyst for a game for the ages.