Snooker icon Terry Griffiths was once left baffled after inadvertently smoking a spliff handed to him by the notorious Jimmy White.
The former world champion has died aged 77 after a long battle with dementia, with current stars including Judd Trump paying tribute to his quality both as a player and a coach. Griffiths, from Wales, was made an OBE in 2007 for his services to the sport and reached a world-ranking of third.
He won the 1979 world title, the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982 completing snooker’s ‘Triple Crown’. But on one occasion he kept missing shots – all thanks to ‘The Whirlwind’.
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Promoter Barry Hearn recalled how teetotal Terry was the main event at a trick shot showcase during the Hong Kong Masters. Hearn, who played host for the evening, recounted: “We held the best back to last.”
He said he hyped up the crowd with a grand introduction. Hearn said: “I gave it the big build-up, ‘Now, the 1979 world champion and a great trick-shot artist, the one and only TERRRRRY GRIFFITHSSS’.
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Initially, Griffiths was nowhere to be seen, but then he staggered out “walking like a drunkard,” reports the Mirror. When questioned if he was alright, Griffiths’ response was casual: “I’ve just had one of Jimmy’s fags.”
He added, seemingly impressed: “Those big roll-your-own ones. They’re great, aren’t they?” Hearn observed that “Terry messed up every shot”.
In his autobiography ‘My Life’, Hearn also noted: “Jimmy tried every toxic substance known to man.” White, now 59, has openly discussed his battles with crack and cocaine addiction.
Griffiths boasted a record of reaching the World Championship quarter-finals for nine consecutive years.