sportskeeda
It is often remarked that mastering snooker reflects a youth that was not wisely spent.
Nevertheless, for Terry Griffiths, snooker offered a pathway out of a challenging childhood.
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Tributes poured in yesterday for the elegantly dressed world snooker champion who passed away on Sunday at 77, after a long struggle with dementia.
The proud Welshman was part of a rare group of only 11 players to ever achieve the prestigious Triple Crown in snooker.
While he claimed the Masters title in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982, it was his incredible triumph at the World Crown in 1979 on his debut that truly put him on the global map.
Snooker player Mark Allen expressed on X/Twitter: “A true legend who had a major impact on my career and life, both on and off the table.”
“I’m deeply saddened. He was more than just a coach; he felt like family.”
Born Terence Martin Griffiths on October 16, 1947, in Llanelli, south Wales, he was the youngest of three siblings.
His father worked as a tin-plate worker, and Terry exhibited academic potential, attending grammar school. However, after failing the 11-plus exam, he missed the company of friends who went to the local secondary modern school.
Terry often skipped school to spend time with friends and was eventually asked to leave the grammar school. He rejoined his friends, including Phil Bennett and Derek Quinnell, who later became notable Welsh rugby players.
He faced probation twice for minor theft offenses but turned his life around upon discovering Hatcher’s snooker hall in Llanelli.
At just 13, after having played snooker on a mini-table with his father, he began earning money from coal miners via cash games.
‘I Worked My Charm’
By the age of 15, he worked as a miner’s apprentice in Pontarddulais, earning five shillings a week. However, the demanding hours were detrimental to his snooker practice, so he switched to a job as a bus conductor, which offered him more time to practice.
It was on the upper deck of the bus that he met Annette, the love of his life, who is now 75.
In his autobiography, Terry reminisced: “I was working the late shift when she happened to board my bus.”
“She rode for several stops while I charmed her. Clearly, it worked because soon after, she broke up with her boyfriend to be with me.”
Terry married at the young age of 21 in 1969. He had two sons: Wayne, now a snooker coach in Hong Kong, and Darren, a golf professional.
To hone his skills further, Terry took a job as a postman. The first national postal strike in 1971 gave him two months of uninterrupted practice time.
That same year, he was the runner-up in the Welsh Championships.
He adjusted his work hours to attend tournaments, later becoming a door-to-door insurance salesman.
A pivotal moment came when he won the English Amateur Championship in 1977 and successfully defended his title the next year. This achievement encouraged Terry, at 30, to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time professional.
This decision required him to ask Annette to work at a car radiator factory to help support their family.
In 1979, he reached the World Championships in Sheffield on his first attempt, eliminating Alex “Hurricane” Higgins before defeating Dennis Taylor in the final.
The £10,000 prize money and the prospect of earning about £75,000 a year enabled him to buy a beautiful home in Burry Port along the Carmarthen coast, featuring a snooker room.
In 1987, he opened his own snooker club in Llanelli, coaching local players including a young Mark Williams at merely 12 years old.
Even after claiming the world title and earning significant fees for appearances, Terry honored a prior commitment to perform at a local club in Kilgetty near Tenby.
Tom Bedford, a journalist sent by his local newspaper to cover the event, observed: “This showcases the kind of person Terry was; despite being a world champion, he upheld the fee he had agreed to before his victory.”
That same year, UK champion John Virgo stayed with Terry and his family while competing in tournaments in Wales. Virgo recalls a morning when he opened his bedroom curtains to find Terry washing his car — a typical display of his kindness.
A teetotaler, Terry was known for being a chain smoker, often smoking ten cigarettes during a match. However, at a trick-shot exhibition during the Hong Kong Masters alongside Jimmy “Whirlwind” White, Terry struggled with his shots, appearing as if he were inebriated.
An Underdog Story
When asked about his well-being, Terry jokingly replied: “I just had one of Jimmy’s roll-your-own cigarettes. They’re amazing, aren’t they?”
In an era of only three TV channels, snooker players achieved cultural icon status.
The public resonated with Terry’s underdog story as the sport transitioned from smoke-filled venues to primetime broadcasts.
His cheerful personality enraptured fans, while his distinctive hair was featured in Chas & Dave’s 1986 hit “Snooker Loopy,” where he humorously sang, “I’ll buy eight more hairbrushes for my barnet.” Terry noted, “My life changed dramatically overnight, but I’m still the same person I was in 1979.”
After 18 successful years at the top, Terry retired in 1997 at 49 to focus on coaching and commentary, following a defeat by Mark Williams, the young player he mentored since age 12.
In 2007, he was awarded an OBE for his contributions to the sport of snooker.
Unfortunately, six years ago, BBC Wales snooker journalist Gareth Blainey grew worried when the once polished broadcaster Terry arrived for an interview, asking: “What topics will they want to discuss with me?”
This marked an early sign of Terry’s battle with dementia. Gareth reflected: “Terry was incredibly sharp and witty. It’s truly heartbreaking to see him affected by dementia. It’s a cruel illness.”
Barry Hearn, a longtime supporter of Terry, paid tribute to “a great friend.”
He added: “I don’t believe anyone could speak ill of Terry — he was genuinely one of the kindest, most straightforward people you could ever meet.
“Around the world, he stood as one of our finest ambassadors.”
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