Terry Griffiths obituary

Terry Griffiths passed away at the age of 77 after battling dementia. He made a remarkable debut in the world of snooker by winning the championship in 1979, a time when the game was evolving from a lesser-known pastime into a popular spectacle on television that captivated millions. As a newcomer from Llanelli, he impressed TV viewers by defeating four top players of that era: Perrie Mans, Alex Higgins, Eddie Charlton, and Dennis Taylor, ultimately claiming the top spot in the sport.

Griffiths had just become a professional the year before, realizing that there were growing chances for recognition and wealth in the sport, or at least a way to make a comfortable living. Even though the tournament scene was still developing and it was quite challenging to secure the two club exhibition gigs a week at £70 each to maintain financial stability, he chose to go for it.

It was a daring decision, especially considering Griffiths's commitments to his wife, Annette, and their two young sons, Wayne and Darren. He likely began to question his choice when he faced his first professional match in late 1978 against Rex Williams during the UK Championship qualifying rounds. It turned into a painful experience for him, as he went from leading 8-2 to ultimately losing 9-8.

A few months later, he went to the qualifying rounds of the World Snooker Championship, with the simple goal of making enough money to clear his car loan.

After making it to the main event, he enjoyed a fairly easy debut, defeating Mans, the 1978 runner-up, with a score of 13-8. Next, he faced two very different challenges. First, he went up against the talented Higgins, showcasing impressive counter-punching skills. He managed to clear the table and steal several frames from over 60 points behind, winning the match 13-12. In the semi-finals, he fought an intense battle against the tough and resilient Charlton. This match turned into a grueling contest, lasting a final session of five and a half hours, ending at 1:40 AM, before he finally triumphed with a score of 19-17.

In the championship match against Taylor, Griffiths began the final day with a slim lead of 17-16. However, he quickly extended his advantage and finished the match with a score of 24-16, securing the top prize of £10,000. Fred Davis, the seasoned former world champion, praised Griffiths's victory, stating that given his limited experience with long matches, "Terry winning this has been the most remarkable feat in the history of the sport."

Griffiths was born in Llanelli, located in southern Wales, to Martin, who worked in a steel mill, and Ivy (whose maiden name was Howells). He was dismissed from Llanelli grammar school due to frequent absences and subsequently moved to a secondary modern school. At the age of 15, he dropped out and took on a variety of jobs, including working as a blacksmith's apprentice, miner, bus conductor, postman, and insurance agent.

While he enjoyed playing snooker at a decent level during his free time, he didn't achieve his first century break until he turned 24, which seems quite late by today's expectations. His initial major accomplishment, the Welsh amateur title, came when he was in his late 20s in 1975. Nevertheless, after that breakthrough, his career took off rapidly, and he claimed the English Amateur Championship titles in both 1976 and 1977, as the competition was open to Welsh participants at that time.

After becoming a professional and triumphing in the 1979 World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Griffiths secured the Masters title in early 1980 by defeating Higgins with a score of 9-5. He then went on to claim his first of three consecutive Irish Masters titles from 1980 to 1982. However, his attempt to defend his world title in 1980 ended abruptly; in his opening match, he faced off against the rising star Steve Davis, who quickly took a 7-0 lead before winning the match 13-10.

Following two more significant defeats to Davis in the UK Championship—9-0 in their 1980 semi-final and 16-3 in the 1981 final—Griffiths started to worry that the younger player was creating a lead that he might never be able to overcome. This prompted him to examine his technique more carefully, leading him to seek guidance from Frank Callan, considered the pioneer of modern snooker coaching. Callan's principles would later play an essential role in Griffiths' own coaching journey.

In 1982, Griffiths achieved the third part of what is now referred to as snooker's triple crown, which includes the world title, the UK championship, and the Masters, by defeating Higgins 16-15 in the UK final. Earlier in that tournament, he pulled off a notable victory against Davis, winning 9-6 in the quarter-finals. Later that season, Griffiths and Davis faced off in four finals in a row. Griffiths emerged victorious in the first final, the Lada Classic, and the last one, the Irish Masters, while Davis claimed the Masters and the Yamaha International titles.

Many anticipated that they would face each other in the Crucible final that year. However, both players were eliminated in the first round—Davis lost to Tony Knowles, and Griffiths was defeated by Willie Thorne. In the end, Higgins claimed the championship.

Following 1982, Griffiths didn't secure any more major titles, but he continually made it to the later rounds of tournaments and maintained his position in snooker's top 16 for 17 years, until 1996, reaching a high ranking of No. 3. During this time, he was part of many unforgettable matches, including a grueling victory over Mark Wildman at the World Snooker Championship in 1983, which lasted until 3:51 am, although he was eventually knocked out in the second round by Cliff Thorburn with a close score of 13-12.

Griffiths stepped away from touring in 1996, excited about his new position as the coaching director at the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. However, he left his post in 1998, even though he had £50,000 remaining on his contract, calling the organization “a frustrating situation… without any progress, just stuck in a loop.”

In 1987, he launched a club in Llanelli called the Terry Griffiths Matchroom and transitioned into working privately. He notably took on the role of personal coach for a team of players, with Stephen Hendry as the leading talent, all of whom were managed by Ian Doyle.

Griffiths, known for his quiet demeanor and humble nature, gained significant popularity across all areas of the game. In 2007, he was honored with an OBE and continued to be sought after for many years. His expertise wasn't just limited to technique and shot choice; he also had a profound grasp of the mental aspects of competitive play.

He is survived by his wife Annette (née Jones), whom he married in 1969, as well as his sons.

Terrence Martin Griffiths, a snooker player and coach, was born on October 16, 1947, and passed away on December 1, 2024.