Williams pays tribute to 'inspiration' Griffiths

Terry Griffiths remains one of only three qualifiers to win the World Championship following his Crucible triumph in 1979

Terry Griffiths was an "inspiration" for generations of Welsh snooker players, says three-time world champion Mark Williams.

Griffiths, who won the 1979 World Championship as a qualifier, has died aged 77.

After a successful playing career, Griffiths became an accomplished coach who worked with stellar players such as Stephen Hendry, Mark Allen and fellow Welshman Williams.

“It’s very sad," said Williams, who won the World Championship in 2000, 2003 and 2018.

"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."

As well as the 1979 World Championship, Griffiths won the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982 to complete snooker's 'Triple Crown'.

He reached a career-high third in the world rankings, and in 2007 was made an OBE for his services to the sport.

Griffiths was also a much-loved television commentator and pundit for the BBC.

"I went to see him not so long ago," Williams told BBC Sport Wales. "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 match was the first round of the 1997 World Championship, where he was beaten in a final-frame decider by a 22-year-old Williams who was making his Crucible debut.

"He always gave me stick for that, saying I was the one that retired him because it was his last match," Williams added.

"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."