Former snooker world champion Terry Griffiths dies aged 77 after dementia battle
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Terry Griffiths, a former world snooker champion, has passed away at the age of 77 following a prolonged struggle with dementia, his family has reported.
Griffiths successfully navigated the qualifying rounds and secured the Crucible title in 1979. In addition, he claimed victory in both the Masters and the UK Championship, achieving the prestigious ‘triple crown’ in snooker.
In later years, Griffiths emerged as a skilled coach, motivating players such as Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, and Mark Allen.
Three-time world champion Williams was one of the first to express his condolences online, calling Griffiths a "mentor, coach, friend, and legend."
Allen expressed, "He was an incredible person who played a significant role in shaping my career and my life, both in and out of the game. I'm completely devastated. He was more than just a coach; he was like family to me."
Wayne, Griffiths' son, posted on Facebook: "To all our friends and snooker fans, we are heartbroken to announce our loss."
Terry Griffiths OBE peacefully left us on December 1st, following a prolonged struggle with dementia. He was with his family in his cherished hometown in South Wales at the time.
Terry, a proud Welshman from Llanelli, has always brought honor to his hometown. Now, he has found tranquility in Llanelli, and he wouldn’t have chosen it any other way.
Griffiths was a prominent presence in the sport throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, consistently making it to the quarter-finals of the World Championship for nine consecutive years and even advancing to the final once more in 1988.
He ended his playing career following a first-round loss to Williams at the 1997 World Championship.
World number one Judd Trump, who secured victory at the UK Championship on Sunday night, expressed his feelings to the Daily Mail, stating: "This is deeply unfortunate news. He is a true icon in the sport."
Terry had a great sense of humor. Every time I attended the Welsh Open, he'd come up to me and crack a joke. We really hit it off.
“Connecting with people from the older generation can be challenging, but he was someone I found it easy to relate to. Today is a sorrowful day for Welsh sports.”
Former world champion Shaun Murphy shared on X, “I’m devastated to learn that Terry Griffiths has passed away. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family and those close to him.”
World Snooker released a statement referring to Griffiths as a true legend of the sport, expressing: "We offer our heartfelt condolences to Terry's family and numerous friends. He was deeply cherished and held in high regard by everyone in the snooker community."
The Welsh Billiards and Snooker Association expressed their sorrow, stating, "It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our President, Terry Griffiths OBE. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Terry's family during this difficult time."
