Keith Deller won the 1983 BDO World Darts Championship final against Eric Bristow, 6–5.
Deller was an unseeded qualifier from Ipswich, England, and his victory remains one of the biggest upsets in world darts. Bristow was the reigning champion and one of the sport’s dominant players, while Deller entered the tournament with far less experience at that level.
The final is especially remembered for its deciding leg. Deller completed a 138 checkout, using treble 20, treble 18 and double 12. That finish gave him the title and prevented Bristow from retaining the championship.
Deller’s success is sometimes confused with other famous giant-killing performances, including Shaun Murphy’s 2005 victory in snooker or Michael Smith’s later darts breakthroughs. In darts history, however, Deller’s 1983 title is specifically associated with a qualifier defeating the leading seed in a dramatic final.