Former snooker world champion Terry Griffiths dies after 'lengthy battle with dementia'

Terry Griffiths, a former world champion in snooker, has passed away at the age of 77 following a prolonged struggle with dementia, according to his family.

Wayne, Griffiths' son, posted on Facebook: "To all our friends and snooker fans, we are heartbroken to announce our loss."

Terry Griffiths OBE peacefully passed away on December 1st after a long struggle with dementia. He was at his cherished home in South Wales, surrounded by his family.

Terry, a man from Wales, was born in Llanelli and has always brought honor to his hometown. Now, he has found contentment in Llanelli, and he wouldn't have wanted it to be any different.

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A career that achieves the 'triple crown' status

Griffiths, who came into the world in 1947, picked up snooker for the first time when he was just 13 years old. By the age of 15, he began working as a miner and went on to hold various positions, including bus conductor, postman, and insurance agent.

Motivated by fellow Welsh snooker player Ray Reardon, a six-time world champion who passed away in July, Griffiths turned pro and eventually claimed the World Championship title in 1979 as a qualifying player.

He went on to achieve the prestigious "triple crown" in snooker, becoming one of just 11 players to accomplish this feat. He won the Masters in 1980 and followed it up with a victory at the UK Championship in 1982.

Griffiths maintained his position among the elite in the sport throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. He made it to the quarter-finals of the World Championship for nine consecutive years and even returned to the finals in 1988.

Following his retirement in 1997, Griffiths took on the role of a coach, motivating players such as Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, and Mark Allen. In recognition of his contributions to snooker, he was awarded an OBE in 2007.

"A legendary figure."

Williams, a three-time world champion, was one of the earliest to honor Griffiths on social media, calling him a "mentor, coach, friend, and legend."

Allen also expressed on social media: "What an incredible person who played a significant role in shaping both my career and my life, both in and out of the game."

"Feeling completely devastated. He was more than just a coach; he felt like family."

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Following his victory at the UK Championship on Sunday, the reigning world number one, Judd Trump, expressed his sorrow, stating, "This is truly heartbreaking. He is an iconic figure in the sport."

Terry had a great sense of humor. Anytime I attended the Welsh Open, he would drop by and crack a joke. We shared a strong bond.

Connecting with some folks from the older generation can be challenging, but he was someone I felt a genuine rapport with. Today is a heartbreaking day for Welsh sports.

In 2020, when he was questioned about his hairdo that resembled that of the Welsh player, Trump remarked, "I aspire to be like Terry Griffiths. I also hope to play at his pace someday."

Former world champion Shaun Murphy expressed his sorrow upon hearing about Terry Griffiths' passing. He shared, "I’m deeply saddened by the news of Terry Griffiths' death. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and those close to him."

The Welsh Billiards and Snooker Association, where Griffiths served as president, expressed its profound sadness and extended heartfelt condolences to Terry's family.