Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths has died aged 77. Griffith completed the sport’s ‘triple crown’ after winning The Crucible in 1979. The Welshman moved into television punditry and coaching after retirement.
Last update: 02/12/24 12:30am
Terry Griffiths won the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible in 1979.
Former snooker world champion Terry Griffiths has died aged 77 after a long battle with dementia, his family has confirmed.
Griffith’s son Wayne wrote on Facebook: “We are very sad to announce defeat to our friends and snooker followers.”
“Terry Griffith OBE passed away peacefully on December 1 after a long battle with dementia. He was surrounded by his family in his beloved home in South Wales.
“A proud Welshman, Terry was born in Llanelli, brought pride to Llanelli and has now found peace in Llanelli – he wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Griffith won the 1979 World Snooker Championship after advancing through the qualifying rounds, as well as the Masters and UK Championship, completing the sport’s glittering ‘triple crown’.
Griffiths later became an outstanding coach, inspiring players such as Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and Mark Allen.
In 2007, Griffith was awarded an OBE for services to sport.
Terry Griffiths last appeared in The Crucible in 1997.
Snooker stars pay tribute to Griffith
World number one Judd Trump led the tributes to Griffith after winning the British Championship final on Sunday evening.
“This is very sad news,” President Trump said. “It’s hard for the family and they have that history with snooker.
“Terry was a witty guy. He was always very funny, very quick and a legend of the game. He was always the guy who would come up and tell me a joke when I went to the Welsh Open.
“I think I can say he was a great coach because of the people who visited him. I had a great relationship. This is incredibly sad news and a sad day for Welsh sport in general.”
Williams and Allen, who describe Griffiths as a mentor, were among the players to pay tribute on social media on Sunday.
Griffith was a fixture at the sport’s highest level in the 1980s and early 1990s, reaching the quarterfinals of the World Championships for at least nine consecutive years, and reaching the final again in 1988.
He retired after a first-round loss to Williams at the 1997 World Championships.
World Snooker posted a statement describing Griffiths as “snooker’s greatest player of all time” and said: “Our sincere condolences to Terry’s family and many friends. He was loved and respected by everyone in the sport.” He added:
The Welsh Billiards and Snooker Association said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of WBSA Chairman Terry Griffiths OBE. We send our deepest condolences to Terry’s family.”
