It is commonly believed that excelling in snooker suggests a youthful misalignment.

Yet for Terry Griffiths, snooker was a pathway out of a chaotic childhood.

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Tributes poured in yesterday for the dapper world snooker champion who passed away on Sunday at the age of 77, after a long battle with dementia.

This proud Welshman was part of the elite group of only 11 players who have managed to achieve snooker’s Triple Crown.

He clinched the Masters title in 1980 and the UK Championship two years later, but it was his remarkable victory in securing the World Crown in 1979 on his first try that shot him to worldwide fame.

Snooker player Mark Allen stated on X/Twitter: “A true legend who had a profound impact on my career and life, both on and off the table.”

“I am absolutely devastated. He was more than just a coach; he felt like family.”

Birthed as Terence Martin Griffiths on October 16, 1947, in Llanelli, south Wales, he was the youngest of three siblings.

His father worked as a tin-plate worker, and Terry exhibited academic potential, earning a place in grammar school. Yet, he felt detached from his peers at the local secondary modern after not passing the 11-plus exam.

Often, he would skip school to spend time with his friends and was eventually expelled from grammar school. He rejoined his friends, including Phil Bennett and Derek Quinnell, both of whom later became prominent Welsh rugby players.

On two separate occasions, Terry faced probation due to minor theft but managed to escape a life of crime upon discovering Hatcher’s snooker hall in Llanelli.

At just 13 years old, having initially played snooker on a mini-table with his father, he began to earn money from coal miners with cash games.

‘Worked my charm’

By 15, he had taken a job as an apprentice miner at Pontarddulais, making five shillings a week. Nonetheless, the demanding hours hindered his snooker practice; thus, he transitioned to a role as a bus conductor, providing him with more time to hone his skills.

On the upper deck of the bus, he met Annette, his lifelong love, now aged 75.

In his autobiography, Terry recounted: “I was working the late shift when she happened to step onto my bus.”

“She rode along for several stops while I charmed her. It clearly worked because shortly after, she decided to end her relationship with her previous boyfriend to go out with me.”

Terry married at the young age of 21 in 1969. He and Annette had two sons: Wayne, who now works as a snooker coach in Hong Kong, and Darren, who is a golf professional.

To enhance his skills further, Terry took on a job as a postman. The first national postal strike in 1971 gave him two months of uninterrupted practice time.

The same year, he secured the runner-up position in the Welsh Championships.

He adjusted his work schedule to fit tournament dates and subsequently became a door-to-door insurance salesman.

A key breakthrough came when he won the English Amateur Championship in 1977 and successfully defended his title the following year, prompting Terry at 30 to chase his dream of being a full-time professional.

This decision required Annette to take on a job in a car radiator factory to manage their expenses.

In 1979, he reached the World Championships in Sheffield on his first try, defeating Alex “Hurricane” Higgins and overcoming Dennis Taylor in the final.

The £10,000 prize money and the potential to earn £75,000 annually allowed him to buy an elegant home in Burry Port along the Carmarthen coast, complete with a dedicated snooker room.

By 1987, he established his own snooker club in Llanelli, where he mentored local players, including a young Mark Williams when he was only 12.

Despite his world title enabling him to command high appearance fees, Terry maintained his commitment to a prior engagement at a local club in Kilgetty near Tenby.

Tom Bedford, a journalist dispatched by his local newspaper to cover the occasion, observed: “This underscores what kind of person Terry was; he remained true to the fee he had agreed upon before his victory, despite being a world champion.”

That year, UK champion John Virgo stayed with Terry and his family while competing in tournaments across Wales. Virgo recalled a morning when he opened his curtains to find Terry washing his car — a typical display of his graciousness.

A teetotaler by choice, Terry was known to be a chain smoker, often consuming ten cigarettes during a match. However, at a trick-shot exhibition during the Hong Kong Masters with Jimmy “Whirlwind” White, Terry struggled with his shots and appeared to stagger as if intoxicated.

Underdog story

When asked about his condition, Terry quipped: “I just had one of Jimmy’s roll-your-own cigarettes. They’re fantastic, aren’t they?”

During a time when there were merely three TV channels, snooker players became cultural icons.

The public embraced Terry’s underdog story as the sport transitioned from smoke-filled halls to prime-time television.

His upbeat personality garnered affection, and his unique hairstyle received recognition in Chas & Dave’s 1986 hit “Snooker Loopy,” where he humorously sang, “I’ll purchase another eight hairbrushes for me barnet.” Terry remarked: “My life changed drastically overnight, but I remained the same person I was back in 1979.”

After 18 triumphant years at the forefront, Terry retired in 1997 at the age of 49 to focus on coaching and commentary after losing to Mark Williams, the young player he had mentored since age 12.

In 2007, he was awarded an OBE for his contributions to the sport of snooker.

Sadly, six years ago, BBC Wales snooker journalist Gareth Blainey expressed concern when Terry, the polished broadcaster, arrived for an interview, asking: “What topics will they discuss with me?”

This was an early sign of Terry’s battle with dementia. Gareth reflected: “Terry was incredibly witty and sharp. It’s heartbreaking to see him affected by dementia. It’s such a cruel condition.”

Long-time promoter Barry Hearn paid tribute to him, stating: “A great friend, I believe no one could speak ill of Terry — genuinely one of the kindest, most straightforward people anyone could ever encounter.”

“Worldwide, he was one of our finest representatives.”

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