Terry Griffiths an ‘inspiration’ – world champion Mark Williams
In addition to the 1979 World Championship, Griffiths also won the 1980 Masters and the 1982 British Championship, completing snooker’s “Triple Crown.”
He reached a career-high world ranking of third and was awarded an OBE in 2007 for his services to the sport.
Griffiths is also a much-loved BBC television commentator and pundit.
“I went to see him a while ago,” Williams told BBC Sport Wales. “We were talking, although I’m not sure he knew who I was because he was in such a bad condition 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 son was playing in a junior game and we ended up walking arm in arm to the club… and that was probably the last time I saw him.”
Griffiths’ last match was in the first round of the 1997 World Championship, where he was beaten in the final decider by 22-year-old Williams, who was making his Crucible debut.
Williams added: “He always stuck with me about it and said I made him retire because it was his last game.”
“I think I beat him 10-9 on black and he always gave me sticks, but he was so funny and dry and you could say anything to him and every time you went out with him, you I couldn’t help but laugh.
“I will just remember how he helped, not just me but every player. If you needed advice growing up, he was always there for everyone and I think everyone would say the same thing, I I don’t know anyone who would say anything bad about him.
“I will just remember all the help he gave me over the years. I won a world championship under his guidance, which was awesome. He will be missed so much.”
“We lost two Welsh legends last year, him and Ray Reardonit’s a sad moment and you have nothing to say. “
