SNOOKER'S SHOWMAN

Friends and family pay heartfelt tributes to a shining star of the game, on and off the table

- By Hannah Britt

JOHN Virgo was a natural entertainer loved by millions of snooker fans for his droll commentary and hilarious impressions — and he was a pretty handy player too.

Dubbed Mr Perfection, John, who died suddenly yesterday aged 79, excelled both on and off the table.

On it, the highlight was his win in the 1979 UK Championship, where he prevailed 14-13 over Terry Griffiths despite arriving late for the final session and being docked two frames.

And he would have fans in stitches during breaks in play at the World Championships with his impersonations of other stars on the circuit, such as Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins.

It was no surprise that he became a hit on Big Break, the BBC’s snooker-themed quiz which was a Saturday night staple from 1991 to 2002.

After retiring in 1994, he moved seamlessly into the commentary box and could often be heard asking: “Where’s the white ball going?”

Speaking just hours after his death from the home they shared in Mijas Costa, Spain, John’s widow, Rosie Ries, said: “We were days shy of our 16-year wedding anniversary. I can’t imagine life without John, he was the love of my life and my best friend.”

John’s close friend James Malyon added: “I’m all over the place, it’s obviously a bit of a shock. He died from a ruptured aorta completely out of the blue. He was in good health before that.”