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Terry Griffiths, a former world snooker champion, passed away at the age of 77, and the sports community has been expressing their condolences.
After advancing through qualification and defeating Dennis Taylor 24-16 in the championship match, Griffiths took home the world title in 1979.
By achieving this, he became the second qualifier to win the Crucible championship. Wayne, Griffiths’ son, said on Facebook, “We are deeply saddened to share the news of our loss to our friends and snooker followers in general.”
“After a protracted fight with dementia, Terry Griffiths OBE died away quietly on December 1st. He was at his cherished South Wales homeland, surrounded by his family.
Terry, a patriotic Welshman who was born in Llanelli, has found peace in the town after bringing pride to it. There is no other way he would have it.
Numerous people from the snooker and other worlds have paid their tributes. One of them, Shaun Murphy, was a 2005 world champion as well.
“Just hearing the news that Terry Griffiths has passed away,” Murphy said in a note. “My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones #legend.”
“Very sad news Terry Griffiths has died,” commented former pro and pundit John Virgo. “We played in the UK final forty-five years ago. He was a kind guy who will be missed. I’m very sorry for Annette and the boys.
Griffiths was a good amateur player in his twenties, but he didn’t become pro until he was thirty. He made his first appearance at the World Championships.
A year later and advanced all the way, defeating previous world champion Alex Higgins on his way to the championship match, when he defeated Taylor.
In 1988, Griffiths made it to the world championship match for the second time, but he lost to Steve Davis.
Throughout his long and illustrious career, he won several more professional and amateur championships, including as the UK Championships in 1982 and the Masters in 1980.
Mark Williams, a fellow Welshman and three-time world champion, also honoured Griffiths. He posted pictures of them together with the words, “Mentor, coach, friend, legend.”
Williams described Griffiths’ influence on his own snooker career in a different piece. “Rest in peace, took care of me since I was twelve years old and played in his club every Sunday. What a legend. He wrote, “#thegriff.”