Terry Griffiths: A Journey from School Truant to World Snooker Champion
It is commonly believed that excelling in snooker reflects a youth poorly spent.
Yet, for Terry Griffiths, snooker was a means of escaping a challenging upbringing.
Tributes poured in yesterday for the debonair world snooker champion who passed away on Sunday at the age of 77, after a long battle with dementia.
The proud Welshman was part of an elite group of just 11 players to have ever achieved snooker’s Triple Crown.
While he won the Masters title in 1980 and followed it up with the UK Championship two years later, it was his remarkable triumph against the odds to clinch the World Crown in 1979 during his debut that propelled him to worldwide recognition.
Snooker star Mark Allen shared his sentiments on X/Twitter: “A true icon who had a significant impact on my career and life, both on and off the table.”
“I am deeply saddened. He wasn’t just a mentor; he was like family.”
Born Terence Martin Griffiths on October 16, 1947, in Llanelli, south Wales, he was the youngest of three siblings.
The son of a tin-plate worker, he showed great academic potential and attended grammar school. However, missing his friends at the local secondary modern school, especially after failing the 11-plus exam, led to a period of truancy.
Terry often played truant to reunite with his friends and was ultimately expelled from grammar school. He reconnects with pals like Phil Bennett and Derek Quinnell, who later became well-known Welsh rugby stars.
Terry faced probation twice for minor theft but managed to steer clear of a life of crime after he discovered Hatcher’s snooker hall in Llanelli.
By age 13, he was already playing snooker on a mini-table with his father and earning money from coal miners through cash games.
‘Worked my charm’
At 15, he began working as a miner’s apprentice in Pontarddulais, earning five shillings a week; however, the long hours clashed with his snooker training. He left to become a bus conductor, which allowed him greater practice time.
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 on the late shift when she boarded my bus.”
“She rode for several stops while I worked my charm. It clearly had an effect because soon after, she ended things with her boyfriend to be with me.”
Terry married young at the age of 21 in 1969. They had two sons: Wayne, who is currently a snooker coach in Hong Kong, and Darren, a professional golfer.
Seeking to further improve his skills, Terry took a job as a postman. The first national postal strike in 1971 provided him with two months of uninterrupted practice.
That very year, he was the runner-up in the Welsh Championships.
Adjusting his work schedule for tournaments, he transitioned to being a door-to-door insurance salesman.
A significant breakthrough occurred when he won the English Amateur Championship in 1977 and successfully defended his title the following year. At 30, this prompted Terry to chase his ambition of becoming a full-time professional.
This choice meant that Annette had to take up work at a car radiator factory to support their finances.
In 1979, he reached the World Championships in Sheffield on his first try, defeating Alex “Hurricane” Higgins before overcoming Dennis Taylor in the final.
The £10,000 prize money and the potential for an annual earning of £75,000 enabled him to buy an upscale home in Burry Port on the Carmarthen coast, complete with a snooker room.
In 1987, he established his own snooker club in Llanelli, where he coached local talents, including a young Mark Williams at just 12 years old.
Even after achieving world champion status, allowing him to command significant fees for appearances, Terry honored a prior commitment to perform at a small club in Kilgetty near Tenby.
Tom Bedford, a journalist sent by his local paper to report on the event, noted: “This demonstrates the kind of person Terry was; despite being a world champion, he respected the fee he had accepted before his victory.”
That same year, UK champion John Virgo stayed with Terry and his family while competing in various tournaments in Wales. Virgo recalled one morning when he drew back his bedroom curtains to find Terry washing his car — a typical act of kindness from him.
A teetotaler, Terry was, however, known to be a heavy smoker, often consuming ten cigarettes during matches. At a trick-shot showcase during the Hong Kong Masters with Jimmy “Whirlwind” White, Terry found himself struggling with his shots after appearing to stagger about like someone inebriated.
Underdog story
When asked how he was feeling, Terry humorously replied: “I just had one of Jimmy’s roll-your-own cigarettes. They’re fantastic, aren’t they?”
In an era with only three TV channels, snooker players became cultural icons.
The public embraced Terry’s underdog story as the sport transitioned from smoky halls to primetime television.
His upbeat personality charmed many, and his uniquely styled hair was featured in Chas & Dave’s 1986 hit “Snooker Loopy,” where he humorously sang, “I’ll buy another eight hairbrushes for me barnet.” Terry noted: “My life changed dramatically overnight, but I remain the same person I was in 1979.”
After 18 fruitful years at the pinnacle of the sport, Terry retired in 1997 at age 49 to concentrate on coaching and commentary after being defeated by Mark Williams, the young player he had mentored from
the age of 12.
In 2007, he was honored with an OBE for his contributions to snooker.
Sadly, six years ago, BBC Wales snooker reporter Gareth Blainey became worried when a polished broadcaster like Terry showed up for an interview, asking: “What topics will they be discussing with me?”
This early sign hinted at Terry’s struggle with dementia. Gareth remarked: “Terry was exceptionally witty and sharp. Witnessing him suffer from dementia is truly heartbreaking. It’s such a cruel illness.”
Barry Hearn, a longtime promoter for Terry, shared his respects, stating: “A great friend has passed. I don’t think anyone could ever speak ill of Terry — he was genuinely one of the kindest, most straightforward people you would ever encounter.
“Globally, he was one of our finest ambassadors.”