Terry
turned professional in 1978 after a very successful amateur
career, although his start in the paid ranks was less than
auspicious. His first tournament was a qualifying match
in the UK Championship and he lost 9-8 to Rex Williams having
led 8-1, but it says a lot for his resilience that he went
on to win his next tournament - the fact that it was the
1979 World Championship makes it even more remarkable.
To
make the transition from amateur to professional can be
difficult but for Terry it was easy. I think the reason
for this was the type of game he played, he certainly seemed
more suited to the longer matches that the professional
game offered than the short sprints in the amateur ones.
Terry's
game got stronger after winning the World Championship and
it has to be said, a little slower. When I first saw Terry
play, his game was not slow, however as the '79 Championship
progressed, it became obvious that he was enjoying the tactical
side of the sport, particularly in his semi-final match
against Australian Eddie Charlton. As the years later went
on to prove, tactical play was his forte, indeed, probably
his main strength.
Unfortunately,
he didn't manage the 'double' of the World and the UK in
1979, thanks to myself, but he did go on to win the Masters
at Wembley to prove he was no flash in the pan and I still
believe if it hadn't been for the arrival of Steve Davis,
he would have been World Champion more than once.
Nowadays
Terry is found at most tournaments in a coaching capacity,
most notable beneficiaries of his skills are Stephen Hendry
and Mark Williams and both seem to be gaining from his experience.
The nice thing for me about having Terry back on the circuit
is the opportunity to reminisce about times gone by!
Not
long after Terry won the World Championship, I was in Wales
playing some exhibition matches. Terry and his wife Annette
had very kindly offered to put me up for a few nights at
their house in Llanelli - how dramatically their lives had
changed since Terry became World Champion! Terry had returned
home to a heroes welcome, a civic reception was held in
his honour - even the mayor and the male voice choir turned
out to greet him!
Unfortunately,
there is a downside to most things in life and Terry's was
that his home became the main, if not the only, stop on
the Llanelli celebrity bus tour! As befitting his celebrity
status, the local bus would stop outside his house and the
driver would announce "On my left side is the home
of Llanelli's most famous son, World Snooker Champion Terry
Griffiths." Even though they had a drive that distanced
them a little from the main road, it was still like living
in a goldfish bowl and whenever they sat in the lounge they
had to close the curtains to keep out prying eyes. On my
first morning there, Annette made me a wonderful breakfast
and as we sat chatting over a cup of tea, I enquired as
to Terry's whereabouts and was told he was out at the front
of the house. Imagine my amazement when I looked out and
saw Terry washing my car!
"What
are you doing?" I asked
"With
all the people looking at the house, I can't have a car
as dirty as this parked in the drive!"
Aah
- the price of fame!
