sportbible
Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths has died at the age of 77 after a prolonged battle with dementia, as reported by his family.
Griffiths made a remarkable journey through the qualifying rounds to clinch the 1979 Crucible title as a qualifier, in addition to winning the Masters and the UK Championship, thereby completing the coveted ‘triple crown’ in the sport.
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In his later years, Griffiths transitioned into a successful coaching role, guiding prominent players such as Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, and Mark Allen.
Three-time world champion Williams was among the first to honor Griffiths on social media, referring to him as a “mentor, coach, friend, and legend.”
Allen shared, “What an incredible individual who profoundly influenced my career and personal life, both on and off the table. Absolutely heartbroken. He was more than just a coach; he was family.”
Wayne, Griffiths’ son, posted on Facebook, “To our friends and snooker enthusiasts, we are deeply saddened to announce the news of our loss.
“Terry Griffiths OBE passed away peacefully on December 1st, following a prolonged battle with dementia.
“He was surrounded by his loved ones in his beloved hometown in South Wales.
“A proud Welshman, Terry was born in Llanelli, brought honor to Llanelli, and has now found peace there.”
“He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”
Griffiths consistently ranked among the sport’s elite during the 1980s and early 1990s, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Championship for nine consecutive years, and made another final appearance in 1988.
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He retired from competitive play following a first-round defeat to Williams at the 1997 World Championship.
Griffiths was married to Annette and had two sons, Wayne, who works as a snooker coach, and Darren, a PGA golf professional.
UNDAUNTED RESILIENCE
Griffiths, known for his careful and systematic approach, had a career as both a player and a coach that illuminated the sport for over four decades.
While often viewed as the tortoise against the hares of competitors like Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins and Jimmy ‘Whirlwind’ White, Griffiths managed to stay away from controversy outside the arena.
Nevertheless, he maximized his abilities and played a pivotal role in transitioning snooker into a new era during the late 1970s and 1980s, rivaling his more flamboyant peers.
“Even 21 years after I stopped playing, fans still approach me for photos and autographs,” Griffiths noted during a 2019 BBC interview.
He made history by winning the world championship on his inaugural attempt in 1979, becoming the first qualifier to achieve this milestone.
A year before this, he was working as an insurance agent.
People still come to me for a photograph and an autograph, and I finished playing 21 years ago.
Terry Griffiths
The Welshman turned professional in June 1978, and in the following April, he embarked on a transformative journey at Sheffield‘s Crucible Theatre.
Griffiths secured 13-8 and 13-12 victories over Perrie Mans and Higgins respectively before defeating Eddie Charlton 19-17 in a semi-final that concluded at 1:40 am—registered as the latest finish for any match at that time.
He then triumphed against future champion Dennis Taylor 24-16 in the final, earning the winner’s prize of £10,000.
“Dennis and I were good friends and had to go to the reception, but I didn’t have a car,” Griffiths recounted. “So, I asked him if I could put the trophy in his trunk, and he kindly agreed.”
Afterward, he laughed, recalling, ‘I can’t believe you asked me to put the trophy in the boot.’ But I was just asking him for a favor!”
The public was drawn to Griffiths’ underdog story as the sport evolved from smoky snooker halls to mainstream television and big business.
His charismatic personality endeared him to fans, and his stylishly groomed appearance famously featured in Chas & Dave’s ‘Snooker Loopy,’ where he sang, ‘I’ll buy another eight hairbrushes for me barnet.’
When Judd Trump’s hairstyle grabbed media attention nearly four decades later, the 2019 world champion joked: “I aspire to be like Terry Griffiths. Hopefully, I can also play as slowly as him one day.”
Born on October 16, 1947, in the rugby town of Llanelli, Griffiths began playing snooker at 13 and quickly established himself as a leading Welsh amateur player.
I want to be like Terry Griffiths. Hopefully, I can play as slow as him one day as well.
Judd Trump
Beyond snooker, he started working in a mine at age 15, later taking on roles as a bus conductor and postman before transitioning to an insurance agent.
Inspired by fellow Welshman Ray Reardon, who claimed six world titles from 1970 to 1978, Griffiths turned professional, embarking on an era where snooker’s stars became some of the most recognizable figures in British sports.
Although not frequently a tournament winner, Griffiths clinched the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982, placing him among the 11 players to have achieved snooker’s Triple Crown.
Griffiths consistently reached the World Championship quarter-finals for nine consecutive years between 1984 and 1992, with a second final appearance happening in 1988, where he lost 18-11 to Steve Davis.
After retiring from professional play in 1997, Griffiths’ graceful style remained timeless.
Nonetheless, he remained active in the snooker scene as a respected commentator while also becoming one of the sport’s leading coaches.
World champions Hendry and Williams, along with Ali Carter, Stephen Maguire, and Ding Junhui, were among the players he mentored, and he served as the director of the South West Snooker Academy.
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