John Virgo arrived early for snooker’s golden age – but his unintended tardiness almost cost him his crowning moment on the baize. But his top-level playing career peaked in 1979 when he reached the semi-finals of the World Championship and then pipped Terry Griffiths seven months later to clinch the UK Championship. Later generations may best recall Virgo for his suitably shambolic interval impressions of rival players or his clownish antics on the snooker-themed game show Big Break. Virgo became one of the sport’s best-loved commentators, best known for his trademark cry of ‘Where’s the cue ball going?’ as it careered haplessly towards a pocket. The corporation was forced into a U-turn and Virgo was still commentating up to last month when he called Kyren Wilson’s Masters win over John Higgins.

Source: Irish Examiner February 04, 2026 16:16 UTC