# Keith Deller

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English darts player (born 1959)

Darts player

Keith Deller MBE Deller in 2011 Personal information Full name Keith Noel Deller Nickname "The Fella" "Milky Bar Kid" "The Delboy" Born (1959-12-24) 24 December 1959 (age 66) Ipswich, England Home town Icklingham, England Darts information Playing darts since 1972 Darts 23g Loxley Laterality Right-handed Walk-on music "Things Can Only Get Better" by D Ream Organisation (see split in darts) BDO 1983–1993 PDC 1993–2007 (founding member) WDF major events – best performances World Championship Winner (1): 1983 World Masters Runner-up: 1984 PDC premier events – best performances World Championship Semi-final: 1998 World Matchplay Semi-final: 1998 World Grand Prix Quarter-final: 1999 UK Open Last 32: 2006 WSDT major events – best performances World Championship Last 16: 2022, 2023 World Matchplay Last 20: 2022 World Masters Quarter-final: 2022 Other tournament wins Double Diamond Masters 1983 Unipart British Professional 1987 WDF World Cup – Team 1983 Nations Cup – Team 1984 PDC Eastbourne Open 2001 Eastbourne Pro 2001 Updated on 12 April 2019.

**Keith Deller** (born 24 December 1959)[1] is an English former professional [darts](/source/Darts) player best known for winning the 1983 [BDO World Darts Championship](/source/BDO_World_Darts_Championship). He also won the [British Professional Championship](/source/British_Professional_Championship) in 1987.

He was the first qualifier to win the World Darts Championship and remains one of the youngest champions in history. For his World Championship win, Deller used 18-gram spring-loaded darts, later banned for tournament play but now legal again.

## Career

### BDO

Deller's victory over [Eric Bristow](/source/Eric_Bristow) in the [1983 BDO World Darts Championship](/source/1983_BDO_World_Darts_Championship) by six sets to five was probably the biggest upset in the history of the championship. He had also beaten world number three [John Lowe](/source/John_Lowe_(darts_player)) in the quarter-finals and defending champion and world number two [Jocky Wilson](/source/Jocky_Wilson) in the semi-final,[2] to become the only player in history to defeat the world's top three ranked players in the World Championship. The tabloid headlines the following day were "Killed Three", an anagram of his name. The champion's prize money in 1983 was £8,000.[2]

His checkout of 138 to clinch the trophy is amongst the most memorable in darting history.[3] Bristow had left himself 50 to stay in the match, but decided to throw for single 18 with his last dart to leave double 16 instead of a more difficult attempt at the bullseye. Deller then hit treble 20, treble 18, double 12 for the title, and even to this day commentators often refer to 138 as the "Deller checkout" if a player is left with that score.[2]

Despite a meteoric rise to world champion, his career results failed to maintain that level. On the defence of his world title, he lost in the first round to [Nicky Virachkul](/source/Nicky_Virachkul), and he only won three further matches in the BDO World Championship in subsequent years. He did win the British Professional Championship in 1987, but generally his world ranking continued to fall, and he failed to qualify for the World Championship between 1989 and 1993. One of his more notable achievements in the years following his world title win is his 100.30 average in his quarter-final match against John Lowe in the 1985 World Championship; this made him the first-ever player to record a three-figure average in a BDO world championship match.[4]

### PDC

Deller was one of the players who broke away from the [British Darts Organisation](/source/British_Darts_Organisation) in 1992 and joined the WDC, now the [PDC](/source/Professional_Darts_Corporation). This saw him gain some more television exposure, and he did produce a few resurgent performances to reach the semi-finals of the 1998 PDC World Championship and also the semi-finals of the 1998 PDC World Matchplay.[5] Deller dropped out of the top 32 of the PDC's World Rankings around 2005 and therefore had to attempt qualification for their major tournaments – which he failed to do for the 2006, 2007 and 2008 PDC World Championships.[5]

## Records

Deller's name has been in the record books on a couple of occasions. He held the [Guinness World Record](/source/Guinness_World_Records) for the fastest three legs of 301 in 97 seconds.[4] On 13 October 1984 he was on the wrong end of a piece of darting history when Lowe hit the first-ever televised [nine-dart finish](/source/Nine_dart_finish) against him in the quarter-finals of the MFI World Matchplay.[4] He became the first player to achieve a [match average](/source/BDO_World_Darts_Championship#Averages) of 100 in a [BDO](/source/British_Darts_Organisation) World Championship match.[4]

On 7 August 2012, Deller recorded a 25-second 301, checking out 130 on the bullseye for a new world record time. This beat the record of 33 seconds by Dean Gould, recorded earlier on the same day at the same venue, the Olympia Great British Beer Festival.[6]

## Spotter

Deller has for many years been part of the [Sky Sports](/source/Sky_Sports) broadcasting team acting as a "spotter" for the cameras.[7] His knowledge of the players and scoring shots helps the director and camera operators to anticipate where the next dart will be thrown.[7]

## Personal life

Deller supports his local football club, [Ipswich Town](/source/Ipswich_Town_F.C.).[8] He lives with his wife Kim and has two children.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

He was appointed [Member of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Member_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) (MBE) in the [2024 New Year Honours](/source/2024_New_Year_Honours), having raised large sums of money for various charities, including over £500,000 for [Macmillan Cancer Support](/source/Macmillan_Cancer_Support).[9]

## World Championship performances

### BDO

Deller's BDO results are as follows:[5]

- 1983: **Winner** (beat [Eric Bristow](/source/Eric_Bristow) 6–5)[2]

- 1984: First round (lost to [Nicky Virachkul](/source/Nicky_Virachkul) 1–2)

- 1985: Quarter-final (lost to [John Lowe](/source/John_Lowe_(darts_player)) 2–4)

- 1986: Second round (lost to [Alan Glazier](/source/Alan_Glazier) 1–3)

- 1987: First round (lost to Brian Cairns 0–3)

- 1988: First round (lost to [John Lowe](/source/John_Lowe_(darts_player)) 1–3)

### PDC

Deller's PDC results are as follows:[5]

- 1994: Group Stage (lost to [Steve Brown](/source/Steve_Brown_(darts_player%2C_born_1962)) 1–3 and [Kevin Spiolek](/source/Kevin_Spiolek) 1–3)

- 1995: Group Stage (lost to [Larry Butler](/source/Larry_Butler_(darts_player)) 2–3 and Kevin Spiolek 1–3)

- 1996: Quarter-finals (lost to [Phil Taylor](/source/Phil_Taylor_(darts_player)) 0–4)

- 1997: Quarter-finals (lost to [Phil Taylor](/source/Phil_Taylor_(darts_player)) 1–5)

- 1998: Semi-finals (lost to [Dennis Priestley](/source/Dennis_Priestley) 1–5 and lost the third place match to [Rod Harrington](/source/Rod_Harrington) 1–4)

- 1999: First round (lost to [Bob Anderson](/source/Bob_Anderson_(darts_player)) 2–3)

- 2000: Second round (lost to [John Lowe](/source/John_Lowe_(darts_player)) 1–3)

- 2001: Quarter-finals (lost to [Phil Taylor](/source/Phil_Taylor_(darts_player)) 0–4)

- 2002: First round (lost to [Rod Harrington](/source/Rod_Harrington) 3–4)

- 2003: Second round (lost to [Richie Burnett](/source/Richie_Burnett) 3–4)

- 2004: Fourth round (lost to [Peter Manley](/source/Peter_Manley) 2–4)

- 2005: Second round (lost to [Wayne Jones](/source/Wayne_Jones_(darts_player)) 1–3)

### WSDT

Deller's WSDT results are as follows:[5]

- 2022: Second round (lost to [Larry Butler](/source/Larry_Butler_(darts_player)) 2–3)

- 2023: Second round (lost to [Neil Duff](/source/Neil_Duff) 0–3)

- 2024: First round (lost to [Richie Burnett](/source/Richie_Burnett) 1–3)

## Career finals

### BDO major finals: 5 (2 titles)

Legend World Championship (1–0) Winmau World Masters (0–1) British Professional Championship (1–0) British Matchplay (0–2)

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score[N 1] Winner 1. 1983 World Darts Championship Eric Bristow 6–5 (s) Runner-up 1. 1983 British Matchplay Eric Bristow 2–3 (s) Runner-up 2. 1984 Winmau World Masters Eric Bristow 1–3 (s) Runner-up 3. 1984 British Matchplay Mike Gregory 2–3 (s) Winner 2. 1987 British Professional Championship Leighton Rees 7–5 (s)

## Performance timeline

Deller's performance timeline is as follows:[5]

**BDO**

Tournament 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 BDO World Championship W 1R QF 2R 1R 1R Winmau World Masters 4R F 3R 3R 3R 2R British Matchplay F F SF DNP British Professional Championship 1R 2R 2R SF W QF Butlins Grand Masters 1R DNP QF 1R Not held MFI World Matchplay NH QF 1R 1R SF 1R

WDF majors performances Tournament Event World Cup 1983 WDF World Cup & WDF Europe Cup Singles QF Pairs QF Team W Overall W

[10]

**PDC**

Tournament 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 PDC World Championship RR RR QF QF SF 1R 2R QF 1R 2R 4R 2R DNQ World Matchplay 2R QF 1R 1R SF 1R 1R 1R QF 2R 1R 1R DNQ World Grand Prix Not held 1R QF 2R 2R 1R 2R Did not qualify UK Open Not held 3R 2R 3R 4R 3R

Performance Table Legend W Won the tournament F Finalist SF Semifinalist QF Quarterfinalist #R RR Prel. Lost in # round Round-robin Preliminary round DQ Disqualified DNQ Did not qualify DNP Did not participate WD Withdrew NH Tournament not held NYF Not yet founded

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-score_10-0)** (l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Keith Deller"](https://www.sport.de/darts/pe612084/keith-deller/). *sport.de* (in German). Retrieved 15 October 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fry_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fry_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-fry_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-fry_2-3) ["Keith Deller a Legacy in 138"](https://dartsworld50.com/2022/01/07/kieth-deller-a-legacy-in-138/). *dartsworld50.com*. 7 January 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Other Sports | Specials | World Darts Championship 2002 | Did you know...?"](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/specials/world_darts_championship_2002/1706853.stm). *BBC Sport*. 20 July 2002. Retrieved 31 May 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-records_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-records_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-records_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-records_4-3) ["Darts World Records"](https://darts501.com/darts-world-records.html). *darts501.com*. 5 January 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-data_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-data_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-data_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-data_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-data_5-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-data_5-5) ["Keith deller Results and statistics"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150529155302/https://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=1379). *dartsdatabase.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](https://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=1379) on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Ellison, Roland (8 August 2012). ["Watch darts World Record attempt as Eric Bristow and Keith Deller go for fastest 301 at the GBBF at London Olympia"](https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/watch-darts-world-record-attempt-1230385). *Daily Mirror*. Retrieved 31 May 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-spotter_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-spotter_7-1) Liew, Jonathan (13 December 2021). ["Zoom call: how the camera became the action in TV darts"](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/dec/13/zoom-call-how-the-camera-became-the-action-in-tv-darts). *The Guardian*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** @KDeller138 (24 June 2018). ["@Official_ITFC @IpswichTownFans on..."](https://twitter.com/KDeller138/status/1010923152862535680) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))) – via [Twitter](/source/Twitter).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Keith Deller awarded MBE in King's New Year's Honours list"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231231033641/https://www.pdc.tv/news/2023/12/30/keith-deller-awarded-mbe-kings-new-years-honours-list). *PDC*. 30 December 2023. Archived from [the original](https://www.pdc.tv/news/2023/12/30/keith-deller-awarded-mbe-kings-new-years-honours-list) on 31 December 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["WDF World Cup"](https://mastercaller.com/tournament/wdf-world-cup). *MasterCaller*. Retrieved 24 November 2025.

## External links

- [Video Clip of John Lowe's nine dart finish v Keith Deller](http://www.metacafe.com/watch/40590/perfect_game/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070216195841/http://www.metacafe.com/watch/40590/perfect_game/) 16 February 2007 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

v t e BDO World Darts Championship winners Men 1978: Rees 1979: Lowe 1980: Bristow 1981: Bristow 1982: Wilson 1983: Deller 1984: Bristow 1985: Bristow 1986: Bristow 1987: Lowe 1988: Anderson 1989: Wilson 1990: Taylor 1991: Priestley 1992: Taylor 1993: Lowe 1994: Part 1995: Burnett 1996: Beaton 1997: Wallace 1998: Van Barneveld 1999: Van Barneveld 2000: Hankey 2001: Walton 2002: David 2003: Van Barneveld 2004: Fordham 2005: Van Barneveld 2006: Klaasen 2007: Adams 2008: Webster 2009: Hankey 2010: Adams 2011: Adams 2012: Kist 2013: Waites 2014: Bunting 2015: Mitchell 2016: Waites 2017: Durrant 2018: Durrant 2019: Durrant 2020: Warren Women 2001: Gulliver 2002: Gulliver 2003: Gulliver 2004: Gulliver 2005: Gulliver 2006: Gulliver 2007: Gulliver 2008: Dobromyslova 2009: Hoenselaar 2010: Gulliver 2011: Gulliver 2012: Dobromyslova 2013: Dobromyslova 2014: Ashton 2015: Ashton 2016: Gulliver 2017: Ashton 2018: Ashton 2019: Suzuki 2020: Suzuki

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Keith Deller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Deller) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Deller?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.