Snooker legend John Virgo has died on the age of 79.
Snooker icon John Virgo has died on the age of 79 (Picture: Getty)
Snooker legend John Virgo has died on the age of 79, it has been confirmed. A member of the game’s elite through the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties, he gained 4 skilled titles together with the UK Championship, Bombay Worldwide and Skilled Snooker League. He additionally reached the semi-finals of the World Championship and British Open and was runner-up on the Champion of Champions in 1980.
Virgo retired from skilled snooker in 1994 and went on to have a profitable profession in broadcasting, primarily working for the BBC. He additionally co-presented the snooker-themed sport present Large Break between 1991 and 2002. Affectionately often called ‘JV’ amongst followers, he’s a member of the World Snooker Tour Corridor of Fame and is extensively thought to be an icon of the game.
Jason Francis, chairman of World Seniors Snooker, introduced the information of Virgo’s demise by way of his Snooker Legends account on X (previously Twitter).
He wrote: “Heartbreaking to share the information that we have misplaced the nice ‘JV’ John Virgo this morning, he handed away in Spain. Rosie and Brooke-Leah would really like everybody to know. Our hearts exit to them each, Gary and the grandchildren.
“JV was doing what he liked to do proper up till the top, entertaining everybody. Such an vital particular person in my life however in our sport normally.
“An amazingly loyal buddy to me, and somebody you felt was sat with you on the match when he was commentating on TV.
“Laborious to take this one… one nice one who touched so many lives and liked the sport. We’ll always remember you bud. RIP JV.”
In a press release, the World Snooker Tour added: “Everybody at World Snooker Tour is deeply saddened to be taught of the passing of legendary snooker participant and broadcaster John Virgo, aged 79. Our ideas are together with his household and family members. Relaxation in peace, JV.”
Tributes have been flooding in on social media, with snooker announcer Phil Seymour additionally paying homage to Virgo in a submit of his personal.
Virgo turned often called the voice of snooker by means of his commentary work (Picture: Getty)
He mentioned: “Relaxation in peace John Virgo. A genuinely pretty man, at all times humorous, with a knack of at all times making individuals smile. A tragic loss. RIP.”
Many followers will know Virgo because the voice of snooker, given his lengthy and profitable commentary profession with the BBC.
In an interview with Stephen Hendry two years in the past, he mirrored on his journey to the sales space after hanging up his cue within the Nineteen Nineties.
“I will be sincere with you, I believe I solely received the job as a result of I used to be on the board,” mentioned Virgo. “I can not keep in mind who, however somebody mentioned to me: ‘Good commentary’, and all that.
“I mentioned: ‘Who would have believed that somebody from Salford may commentate for the BBC?’. And he mentioned: ‘Oh, accents do not imply something now, regardless of the place you come from’.
“I mentioned: ‘Oh, truthful remark. Effectively, in the event you ever hear somebody from Wolverhampton studying the 9 o’clock information, give me a hoop’.
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“I really feel blessed that I’ve managed to create this little area of interest and never need to lose my accent. They gave me a three-day trial and Nick Hunter was a producer on the time.
“He mentioned: ‘Are you having fun with it?’. I mentioned: ‘Yeah, I am having a very good time’. He mentioned: ‘Effectively, we’re having fun with what you are doing’.”
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