By Elliott West
“It was a great thing for me – the pinnacle of my career.”
Terry Griffiths
Introduction
Perhaps one of the most amazing victories in snooker history has to be when Terry Griffiths won the World Championship in 1979. At 31, Terry, a former Llanelli postman, had to qualify for the World Championship and went through the gruelling process of the snooker booths to defeat Bernard Bennett 9-2 from 0-2 behind and Jim Meadowcroft 9-6 from 6-6. A feat that was amazing in itself and only got him to the first rung of this prestigious tournament. What followed would be beyond Griffiths’ wildest dreams and propelled him out of the snooker darkness into the glaring lights of stardom.
The Snooker Marathon
Speak to any snooker player who has won the World Championship and you will be given an account of the highs and lows that this rollercoaster puts you through before you get your hands on the prized gem of the trophy. This experience wasn’t any different for Terry Griffiths in 1979, the same year Margaret Thatcher had won a landslide election victory against Labour’s James Callaghan. This wouldn’t be an easy ride and there would be plenty of bumps along the way.
His opponent in the first round was the South African, Perrie Mans. Perrie had reached the final the year before in 1978 but lost out to Ray Reardon 25-18 and so if anyone would be a stumbling block, Mans could have been the player that put the spanner in the works for the Welsh hopeful. However, Griffiths proved his worth and was able to dispatch this snooker hurdle 13-8 and subsequently tossed aside Alex Higgins 13-12 in the quarter-finals and had to endure a very late finish match in the semi-finals against the Australian Eddie Charlton, a match that eventually concluded at 1:40 am with Griffiths edging out a victory 19–17.
The elation of Terry’s path was etched on his face when he potted the winning ball and despite having to battle extreme tiredness, was able to release his elation with the classic line he delivered to David Vine in his post-match interview:
“I’m in the final now, you know”.
Terry Griffiths
The Quest for Success
If Terry was going to be a world champion, he had to defeat the experienced Dennis Taylor. Dennis, who had been a professional since 1973 and who was also in his first world championship final, would definitely be a tough cookie to crumble and took the challenge very seriously. So much so that the match went nip and tuck for four sessions, resulting in a 15-15 draw. What followed blew Taylor out of the water with Griffiths producing snooker from the gods and resulting in the Welshman leading 17-16 and then going full force on the accelerator to win the title 24-16.
An Amazing Achievement
Terry’s world championship title in 1979 will go in the record books for breaking so many records. Not only was he a qualifier but he also won this title on his first attempt and in his second tournament as a professional. Prior to Griffiths, Alex Higgins had been the qualifier to win the tournament when he won it in 1972. Griffiths drew in stature through this event and especially before the cameras and audience in the final. A style of play that just tightened, refined and got better as this final drew to a conclusion.
It was a debut that was truly amazing and especially for those who were lucky enough to view it live with all the cards of suspense, heartache and elation being dealt. However, when the lights went out and the audience dispersed, the two players were friends once more. Terry who didn’t have a car at the time got a lift off Dennis to the reception with the trophy in the boot of his car. A cheeky request but one that Taylor obliged. Although he did remark on it later, saying :
“I can’t believe you asked me to put the trophy in the boot”.
Dennis Taylor
A Dream come True
Griffiths’ victory came with a jaded prize, the onus of success. Terry freely admits that he found it very difficult to handle the adulation that came with the title and the long and often long spells away from home as he was thrown into the snooker calendar and the various exhibition matches that were expected of him. The £10,000 cheque for the tournament definitely increased his bank balance but it also changed his life once and for all. A victory that prevented him from eating and sleeping and a weight loss of 14lb. A journey that would lead to a very eventful career winning numerous titles including accomplishing the Triple Crown of the Masters, UK Championship and World Championship and an illustrious adventure that ended when he retired as a professional player in 1997.
