Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths has passed away at the age of 77 after a long battle with dementia, his family announced.
Griffiths started life in the coal mines at 15, then became a bus conductor and a postman before turning professional at snooker in 1978.
He won the 1979 world title on his Crucible debut, becoming the first qualifier to triumph at the World Championship when he beat Dennis Taylor in the final.
He and also won the Masters and the UK Championship to complete the sport’s illustrious ‘triple crown’, becoming only the second player to do so after Steve Davis. Only 11 players in total have managed the feat.
“From being a miner at 15 years of age in Pontarddulais, then I was a bus conductor and a postman and then went on to work in insurance,” Griffiths once said.
“Next thing I was champion of the world.
“It was a great thing for me – the pinnacle of my career.”
Griffiths was a fixture at the top end of the sport during the 1980s and early 1990s, reaching at least the quarter-finals of the World Championship for nine straight years, and reaching the final again in 1988.
He retired from playing after a first round defeat to Williams at the 1997 World Championship.
In later years Griffiths tutored several leading players, including Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, Ken Doherty and John Parrott.
Announcing his death, Griffiths’ son Wayne wrote on Facebook: “To our friends and snooker followers in general, we are deeply saddened to share the news of our loss.
“Terry Griffiths OBE passed away peacefully on 1st December, after a lengthy battle with dementia. He was surrounded by his family in his beloved home-town in South Wales.
“A proud Welshman, Terry was born in Llanelli, brought pride to Llanelli and now he has found peace in Llanelli. He would not have had it any other way.”
World number one Judd Trump, who won the UK Championship on Sunday evening, was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: “It is incredibly sad news. 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 world champion Shaun Murphy said on X: “Just hearing the news that Terry Griffiths has passed away. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
World Snooker posted a statement describing Griffiths as an “all-time snooker great”, adding: “Our sincere condolences to Terry’s family and many friends. He was loved and respected by everyone in the sport.”
