Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths has died aged 77; Griffiths triumphed at The Crucible in 1979 earlier than occurring to finish the game’s ‘triple crown’; Welshman moved into tv punditry and training after retiring from taking part in
Final Up to date: 02/12/24 12:30am
Terry Griffiths gained the World Snooker Championship at The Crucible in 1979
Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths has died aged 77 after a prolonged battle with dementia, his household have confirmed.
Griffiths’ son Wayne wrote on Fb: “To our friends and snooker followers in general, we are deeply saddened to share the news of our loss.
“Terry Griffiths OBE handed away peacefully on December 1, after a prolonged battle with dementia. He was surrounded by his household in his beloved home-town in South Wales.
“A proud Welshman, Terry was born in Llanelli, brought pride to Llanelli and now he has found peace in Llanelli. He would not have had it any other way.”
Griffiths got here by way of the qualifying rounds earlier than occurring to win the 1979 World Snooker Championship, and likewise gained the Masters and the UK Championship to finish the game’s illustrious ‘triple crown’.
In later years, Griffiths grew to become an achieved coach, inspiring the likes of Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and Mark Allen.
In 2007, Griffiths was made an OBE for his companies to the game.
Terry Griffiths made his final look at The Crucible in 1997
Snooker stars pay tribute to Griffiths
World No 1 Judd Trump led the tributes to Griffiths after profitable the UK Championship ultimate on Sunday night.
“It is very, very sad news,” Trump mentioned. “It is tough for the family and they have such a history in snooker.
“Terry was a witty man. He was all the time very humorous and fast, and a legend of the sport. He was somebody that, after I went to the Welsh Open he’d all the time come over and make a joke.
“I think because of the people that went to him you could tell he was a great coach. I had a good connection. It is incredibly sad news and a sad day for Welsh sport in general.”
Williams and Allen, each of whom describe Griffiths as a mentor, have been amongst gamers who took to social media on Sunday to pay tribute.
Griffiths was a fixture on the prime finish of the game in the course of the Eighties and early Nineteen Nineties, reaching at the very least the quarter-finals of the World Championship for 9 straight years, and reaching the ultimate once more in 1988.
He retired from taking part in after a first-round defeat to Williams on the 1997 World Championship.
World Snooker posted a press release describing Griffiths as an “all-time snooker great”, including: “Our sincere condolences to Terry’s family and many friends. He was loved and respected by everyone in the sport.”
The Welsh Billiards and Snooker Affiliation mentioned: “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of WBSA President Terry Griffiths OBE. We send our deepest condolences to Terry’s family.”
