R.I.P John Virgo

UK snooker champion of 1979 and BBC commentator John Virgo has sadly passed away at the age of 79. I will do a proper tribute later but for now all I can say is that I am utterly heartbroken .

Dearly departed to where the cue ball is going. Rest In Peace

RIP

Hi

RIP John, you were great and kept us amused and interested in your TV day

RIP

Perhaps the only commentator other than the late great Sid Waddell who was completely synonymous with one sport. Utter legend in every sense of the word.

RIP

Where's John Virgo going, where's John Virgo going. Oh no!! RIP

I didn't see him win the final of the 1979 UK Championship because of a BBC strike which meant it wasn't aired live. I was supporting Terry Griffiths and when I heard the result I was disappointed that Virgo pinched it 14-13. despite being docked 2 frames for arriving late for the final session.

I am more of a fan for him as a commentator rather than a player, and loved his Tv show with Jim Davidson. He was a player worthy of the snooker hall of fame and is a great loss to snooker.

known him more his Commentating and Big Break than playing but such a part of snooker for so long will be missed

Wasn't he the one who made a 147 and it was missed by TV?
A brilliant player and snooker commentator, plus remember his snooker impressions.

Loved him on Big Break and it was a brilliant partnership between JV and Jim Davidson and he was so deadpan on it - 'Pot as many balls as you can" was one as I think it give him a opportunity to show off that humour.

Snooker has lost a true legend of the game. RIP JV.

This is the saddest of days for me.
I have been left absolutely devastated at an incalculable loss to the sport I fell in love with as a boy and one where the bond of affection has strengthened several fold over many years.

John Virgo was an ordinary kid from Salford whose eyes lit up within the snooker hall environment of the late 1950s. All this in an era where snooker was perceived as a misspent youth and snooker halls were seen as what he recalls to be described as dens of iniquity.
Despite his father initially not being so approving of his young son frequenting such an environment it came to pass that John would become British Under 16 champion. A title that would be won in future years by the likes of the seven time World Champions Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan no less.

He was a highly astute and talented player who worked tirelessly at his game.
His big moment came in 1979 winning the UK Championship where he beat Welsh legend Terry Griffiths 14-13 in the final despite being docked two frames before the finish for turning up late for one of the sessions of the match. In the end due to a BBC staff strike the coverage of! the closing frames has never been available denying him his moment of glory.

His best tilt at a World Crown would also happen in that same year of 1979 where he lost to 1985 World Champion and fellow BBC commentator Dennis Taylor 19-12 in the semi finals.

As his powers waned on the professional circuit he took to impressions of other players performed with humour and skill.
He did so at the home of snooker. The Crucible. He usually did so when there were spare unused sessions to compensate ticket holders who had been denied meaningful action on the table.

This inadvertently gave him his next and literal Big Break as the partner in crime of Jim Davidson for a snooker themed TV quiz show of that very name.
A show that screened over 200 episodes over an eleven year period up to 2002.

But it was his commentary that in the view of so many significant figures within the sport will forever stand the test of time. The tributes paid by his peers to his knowledge, his wit, his kindness and his passion for snooker are thoroughly deserved.
John Virgo was far more than just a catchphrase of "Where's the cue ball going?" or "There's always a gap". He was an authentic voice of the game he fell in love with well over 60 years before his passing.
Succeeding Ted Lowe was on the face of it the toughest of assignments but John Virgo, a self effacing, humble lad from the North West of England more than passed with flying colours.

A friend to so many in the game especially the people's champions. Hurricane Alex Higgins and Whirlwind Jimmy White.
A self confessed, respected, well liked friend to arguably the greatest player that snooker has known i.e Ronnie O'Sullivan.

A voice of reason and common sense to so many other professionals of all eras.

I have stayed loyal to the BBC coverage of the major events in the sport I love for two key reasons. One is Hazel Irvine who I believe to be the best sports broadcaster of all time. The other I now have to refer to in the past tense which saddens me more than words can say. He was John Virgo. I looked forward to hearing his voice, his foresight, his opinions, anecdotes and yes his immortal sense of wonderment as to where that little white ball was going.

I feel utterly desolate at the notion his voice will be mere memory from this day forward.
He transcended his sport and will forever rightly considered as both one of its greatest advocates and friends.

I will miss him enormously and snooker will never quite seem the same again.

Rest in peace JV. God bless your soul.