Terry Griffiths Welsh former professional snooker player Date of Birth: 16.10.1947 Country: Great Britain

Content:

1. Terry Griffiths: The Rise and Triumph of the Welsh Wizard
2. From Amateur Prodigy to Professional Triumph
3. The Crucible Miracle
4. Masters and Irish Masters Triumphs
5. World Title Defense and Rivalry with Steve Davis
6. Later Career and Legacy
7. Key Accomplishments

Terry Griffiths: The Rise and Triumph of the Welsh Wizard

Terry Griffiths, a former Welsh professional snooker player, ascended to the heights of the sport, etching his name into history with an array of remarkable achievements.

From Amateur Prodigy to Professional Triumph

As a former postman, Griffiths' amateur career spanned many years, culminating in the 1975 National Amateur Championship triumph and two English Amateur Championship victories (1977, 1978). His transition to professionalism in 1978 marked a pivotal point in his journey.

The Crucible Miracle

At the 1979 World Snooker Championship, Griffiths made history as the first qualifier to reach the final. After overcoming Perry Mans and Alex Higgins, he faced Australian Eddie Charlton in an epic semi-final, prevailing 19-17. The moment he realized his accomplishment, he exclaimed, "I'm in the final, can you believe it?"

In the final, Griffiths faced tournament favorite Dennis Taylor. To everyone's astonishment, he pulled off a sensational victory, securing the title with an eight-frame advantage. The same year, he led Wales to victory in the World Team Cup against England and reached the final of the UK Championship.

Masters and Irish Masters Triumphs

1980 brought another triumph at the Masters, where Griffiths defeated Higgins 9-5. His debut victory marked the first and only time a player has won the prestigious tournament on their first attempt. He matched this feat by winning the Benson and Hedges Irish Masters, becoming the first player to win three consecutive tournaments.

World Title Defense and Rivalry with Steve Davis

Despite his success, Griffiths' bid to defend his world title in 1980 was short-lived, as he lost to Steve Davis in the first round. Their rivalry intensified, with Davis thwarting Griffiths' hopes at the world championship and the 1981/82 UK Championship final. However, Griffiths managed to regain his Irish Masters title and led Wales to a second World Team Cup victory.

Later Career and Legacy

While Griffiths never regained a ranking title, he won numerous invitational events, including the Malaysian and Singapore Masters, Hong Kong Masters, and Belgian Classic. In 1988, he reached his second World Championship final, where he faced Davis once more, but this time Davis proved too strong, winning 18-11.

Griffiths' contribution to snooker extended beyond his playing career. He became a renowned coach, mentoring top players such as Mark Williams, Marco Fu, Mark Allen, Joe Perry, and Ali Carter. He has also worked as a commentator for BBC's snooker coverage.

Key Accomplishments

1979 World Snooker Championship
1980 Masters
1981 and 1982 Irish Masters
1982 Scottish Masters
1982 Lada Classic
1982 UK Championship
1984 Pot Black Cup
1985, 1986, and 1988 Welsh Professional Championship
Member of the Snooker Hall of Fame (2013)
Awarded OBE in 2007 for his services to snooker

Billiards

Joe Davis	Joe Grech	Steve James
Karen Corr	Mark Davis	Paul Davies