Former snooker world champion Terry Griffiths passes away at 77

Former snooker world champion Terry Griffiths has passed away at the age of 77 after a long battle with dementia, per BBC Sport.

Griffiths won the 1979 World Championship as a qualifier, beating Dennis Taylor 24-16 in the final. His world success propelled him to the top of the sport.

The Welshman won the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982 to complete the snooker 'Triple Crown.' He reached a highest world ranking of third.

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!

Griffiths finished his snooker career in 1997 and later became a coach and a BBC commentator. He inspired Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams and was awarded an OBE for his services to the sport in 2007.

Many of the game's best have paid tribute to the snooker legend on social media, from promoters to fellow world champions.

Mark Williams, a fellow Welshman and three-time world champion, described him as a "mentor, coach, friend, legend."

Matchroom Sport president Barry Hearn, the father of boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, said: "He was just the most fantastic person, the greatest dry sense of humour, a Welsh fanatic, he loved Wales more than anything else."

"He loved playing snooker, loved the Crucible, terribly proud to be world champion, and just a total joy to have around; all over the world, he was one of our greatest ambassadors."

Judd Trump, the recent winner of the UK Championship and the 2019 world champion, paid his respects to Griffiths following his 10-8 final victory against Barry Hawkins.

Trump said: "I think because of the people who went to him, you could tell he was a great coach. I had a good connection. It is incredibly sad news and a sad day for Welsh sport in general."

Want to see more like this? Follow us here for daily sports news, profiles and analysis!