The five-time world champion, born in London, suffered the cardiac arrest whilst attending a Premier League event in Liverpool.

Bristow dominated darts in the early 1980s and won the World Championships five times from 1980 to 1986.

He also won five World Masters titles during his career and was a founder player of the Professional Darts Corporation, formed in 1992 after a group of leading darts players thought the sport's governing body, the British Darts Organisations, was not doing enough to encourage new sponsors into the sport.

Bristow, known as the "Crafty Cockney" was made a Member of the British Empire for services to sport in 1989, making him the first darts player to receive the honour.

After competing in his final World Championship in 2000, Bristow became a darts pundit for Sky Sports.

Upon the announcement of his death, tributes poured in from the world of darts, including from Phil Taylor, widely regarded as the greatest ever darts player, who Bristow is credited with having mentored.

Writing on Twitter, Taylor, a 16-time world champion, said: "Words cannot express how sad and shocked I am to hear the terrible news about Eric's passing.

"A huge influence on my career and a larger than life character, the world has lost a legend. RIP pal."

Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld from The Netherlands added: "I am lost for words and really devastated!” He was darts.

"He meant so much to me, I cannot believe it.

"My thoughts go out to his wife and family."