- Snooker icon famously won at Crucible in 1979 in second professional tournament
- He went on to win Masters and UK Championship to complete career Triple Crown
- Griffiths then became an esteemed coach working with the game’s top players
Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths has died aged 77 after a long battle with dementia.
The legendary Welshman famously won at the Crucible in 1979 as a qualifier in just his second professional tournament.
Griffiths went on to win the Masters and UK Championship to complete a career Triple Crown before becoming an esteemed coach and working with some of the game’s top players, including Mark Williams and Mark Allen.
‘It is incredibly sad news,’ said Judd Trump after winning the UK Championship in York on Sunday vnight. ‘He is a legend of the game.
‘Terry was a very witty guy. Whenever I was at the Welsh Open, he would come over and make a joke. I had a good connection with him.
‘It is hard to connect with some of the older generation but he was someone I felt I could get along with. It is a sad day for Welsh sport.’
Former snooker world champion Terry Griffiths has at the age of 77
World No3 Allen posted on social media: ‘What a legend of a man who helped shape my career and life both on and off the table. Absolutely heart broken. He wasn’t just a coach, he was family.’
Shaun Murphy, who in 2005 became the only man since Griffiths to win a world title as a qualifier, said: ‘Just hearing the news that Terry Griffiths has passed away. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones
The World Snooker Tour’s official X account posted: ‘We are deeply saddened tonight to hear that Terry Griffiths, a former World Champion and all-time snooker great, has passed away at the age of 77.
‘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 Association said: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of WBSA President Terry Griffiths OBE.
‘We send our deepest condolences to Terry’s family.
‘RIP Griff.’
BBC Wales journalist Sue Charles added: ‘Sad to say goodbye to a Llanelli legend. My dad Phil, was in school with Terry Griffiths.
The Welshman won a career Triple Crown before moving into coaching upon his retirement
‘One of his favourite tales was that they’d both occasionally skipped school to play snooker, which worked out much better for one than the other! Farewell Terry, forever a world champion.’
The WPBSA posted on X: ‘This evening we are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our 1979 world snooker champion Terry Griffiths OBE at the age of 77. All our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.’
Griffiths’s memorable win in 1979 was only the second time a qualifier had won snooker’s premier competition after Alex Higgins achieved the feat seven years prior.
After his final appearance at the Crucible in 1997, Griffiths commentated on major matches for the BBC.
He was awarded an OBE for services to snooker in 2007.