Like the former world champions that they are, Eric Bristow and Keith Deller sailed into Bermuda (literally) on Monday, brushed aside a host of challengers, then calmly sailed out a day later.

Their whirlwind visit aboard the luxury cruise liner QE2 was regarded as too brief by the English pair, but what they saw of the Island they loved -- just as their appearance at the Robin Hood Pub was enjoyed by Bermuda darts lovers.

Predictably, the pair pummelled most of Bermuda's top players, although Deller lost two matches when he went down to Vernon Daniels and Gregor McQueen. There were a few other occasions when the locals were quite competitive and could have won with a bit of luck.

More importantly, the occasion gave spectators a chance to get a close look at what high calibre professionals can produce in a sport they have come to master.

Among those who expressed his delight in the appearance of the duo was prominent Island darts official John Holder.

"The whole evening was quite outstanding, one that everybody enjoyed. The support from the local darts fraternity was simply overwhelming, people were just jammed in at the club to see the players,'' said Holder. For the number two ranked player in the world, Bristow, who was honoured by the Queen in February, 1989, with a MBE, and the sixth-ranked Deller, spending a short holiday in Bermuda and being involved in a few exhibitions was nothing but a part of the routine they have come to enjoy.

But this trip from England to New York via Bermuda and back to England was something special because the 17-day excursion enabled them to spend time with their families.

Bristow admits that it is difficult and often impossible to have them by his side as he travels around the world -- he was recently in Las Vegas -- but this time his family was making every use of the occasion. "I don't get a chance to travel with the family mainly because the children are six and four years old and I don't want to pull them with us,'' said Bristow. "Often there are times when we visit some countries for just three and four days, you don't want to drag your family around like that. However, my wife is not silly, she picks all of the good trips, like coming to Bermuda.'' The life of a professional darts player is not difficult, in fact it is rather nice, according to Bristow, nicknamed The Crafty Cockney. "It's hectic but a nice, sociable life. You meet nice people and travel to nice places,'' he said.

There isn't much that Bristow hasn't won or accomplished in the sport, although scoring a perfect 501 game during a televised tournament is one goal that continues to escape his grasp. "I have thrown a few perfect games, maybe five or six, but none on television. In fact there have only been two scored on television and that's where you really want to do it, it's worth a lot of money then,'' he noted.

While Bristow has won practically every world tournament there is in darts -- and many more than once -- Deller is less established internationally but is making inroads as far as attaining the same recognition as Bristow.

"Eric is the most busy professional there is, but there are three to four professionals on the road in England who are doing a lot of exhibitions and other demonstrations, playing a lot at trade shows, pubs, clubs and doing a lot of shows for companies. But this visit here is also great for us,'' said Deller.

During the next few months the pair will travel through the US and Europe but their focus will be on the World Championships at the end of the year.

DYNAMIC DUO -- Former world champions Keith Deller and Eric Bristow put on a darts exhibition at an Island pub on Monday.