Mark Williams Honors Terry Griffiths, Calling Him an ‘Inspiration’

Terry Griffiths, who passed away at 77, was hailed as an “inspiration” for multiple generations of Welsh snooker players by three-time world champion Mark Williams. Griffiths, notable as one of only three qualifiers ever to secure the World Championship, achieved this feat with his victory at the Crucible in 1979. Following a distinguished playing career, Griffiths transitioned into a highly skilled coach, mentoring prominent figures in the sport such as Stephen Hendry, Mark Allen, and fellow Welshman Williams. Williams, who claimed the World Championship titles in 2000, 2003, and 2018, expressed his sorrow, stating: “It’s very sad. Griff, as I always called him, I’d go down his club when I was 13, 14 years of age playing tournaments every Sunday for years and years. He coached me for a while and won the World Championship, but just a good friend, one of the best players Wales ever produced. He was an inspiration for all the juniors. We all used to go to his club and practice and he always used to be there, presenting the £100 or £200 to the winners, he was always there. Every one of us looked up to him, it’s just very sad. He was a friend, mentor, coach, everything.” Beyond his 1979 World Championship win, Griffiths also clinched the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982, thereby completing snooker’s esteemed ‘Triple Crown’. He reached his highest world ranking of third and was appointed an OBE in 2007 in recognition of his contributions to the sport. Griffiths was also a beloved television commentator and pundit for the BBC. Recalling a recent visit, Williams shared with BBC Sport Wales: “I went to see him not so long ago. We were talking, although I’m not sure he knew who I was because he was quite bad at the time [with dementia]. But all of a sudden he jumped up and said ‘Come on, let’s go to the club’ where my boy was playing the junior competition and we ended up walking to the club arm in arm….and that was probably the last time I saw him.” Griffiths’ final competitive appearance was in the first round of the 1997 World Championship, where he was defeated in a deciding frame by a 22-year-old Williams, who was making his debut at the Crucible. Williams recounted: “He always gave me stick for that, saying I was the one that retired him because it was his last match. I think I beat him 10-9 on the black, and he always gave me stick, but he was so funny, dry, you could say anything to him, every time you were out with him you couldn’t stop laughing. I will just remember how he helped, not just me, but every player. If you ever needed advice growing up, he was always there for everybody and I think everyone will say the same thing, I don’t know anybody who would say a bad word about him. I will just remember all the help he gave me over the years. I won the world title with him coaching me, that was fantastic. He will be sorely missed. That’s two Welsh legends we’ve lost in the last year with him and Ray Reardon, it’s sad times and there’s not much more you can say.”