Terry Griffiths Player Profile
Terry Griffiths Stats
Date of birth: 16 October, 1947
Nationality: Wales
First turned professional: 1978
Highest ranking: 3
Ranking titles: 1
Triple Crown titles: 3
Crucible best: champion
Masters appearances: 17
147 breaks: 0
SHQ Stars:
★★★★★★
Summary
A Welsh amateur champion and two-time English amateur champion, Terry Griffiths turned professional in 1978 at the age of 31.
It didn’t take very long for him to make an impact on the main tour, winning the World Snooker Championship in his very first attempt.
Griffiths became the first qualifier to go the distance at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, beating Alex Higgins in the quarter-finals, Eddie Charlton in the semi-finals, and Dennis Taylor to lift the trophy.
Less than a year later, Griffiths quickly added the 1980 Masters and Irish Masters crowns to his CV.
The Welshman appeared to be heading for domination, but the emergence of a young Steve Davis proved pivotal.
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Griffiths was an ever-present at the business end of tournaments throughout the following decade.
But Davis was a persistent thorn in the side of Griffiths and often prevented him from capturing more silverware.
Between 1980 and 1988, the Nugget beat Griffiths six times in the World Snooker Championship, including in the 1988 final.
Despite not being able to add to his ranking event tally, Griffiths’ consistency ensured that he spent the best part of 15 years ranked inside the world’s top ten.
There were other notable triumphs as well, including winning the UK Championship in 1982 when it was still a non-ranking tournament to complete the career Triple Crown.
Griffiths won three Irish Masters titles in total, emerged as the Pot Black winner in 1984, and beat Davis to win the 1982 Classic.
Alongside Ray Reardon and Doug Mountjoy, Griffiths twice won the World Challenge Cup for Wales.
After dropping out of the top 16 in the world rankings, Griffiths called time on his career with a first-round defeat at the 1997 World Championship and subsequently enjoyed a successful career as a snooker coach.
On December 1st, 2024, it was announced that Terry Griffiths had passed away surrounded by family after a battle with dementia.
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Ranking Event Victories
- 1979 World Snooker Championship
Other Notable Victories
- The Masters (1980)
- UK Championship (1982)
- Irish Masters (1980, 1981, 1982)
- Pot Black (1984)
- The Classic (1982)
- Pontins Professional (1981, 1985, 1986)
- Hong Kong Masters (1985)
- Belgian Classic (1986)
- World Challenge Cup (1979, 1980)
Featured photo credit: WST
Terry Griffiths Player Profile
SHQ Stars: How it works
Rating | SHQ Stars | Career Requirements |
---|---|---|
Black | ★★★★★★★ | multiple world champion; 30+ ranking titles; career triple crown; world no.1 (at least 3) |
Pink | ★★★★★★ | world champion; 10+ ranking titles; multiple winner of triple crown events; member of top 2; 15+ seasons in top 16 (at least 3) |
Blue | ★★★★★ | winner of triple crown event; 5+ ranking titles; member of top 4; 12+ seasons in top 16 (at least 2) |
Brown | ★★★★ | 2+ ranking titles; member of top 8; triple crown event finalist; 8+ seasons in the top 16 (at least 2) |
Green | ★★★ | ranking title; member of top 16 (at least 1) |
Yellow | ★★ | member of top 64 |
Red | ★ | professional |