Terry Griffiths, the esteemed former world snooker champion, has died at 77 after a prolonged battle with dementia, his family announced.

The Welsh snooker champion, renowned for being the first qualifier to win the World Championship in 1979, defeated Dennis Taylor 24-16 in the final.

Griffiths further cemented his legacy by winning the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982, securing snooker's coveted 'Triple Crown'.

Achieving a career-high of third in the world rankings, Griffiths was honored with an OBE in 2007 for his contributions to the sport.

His son, Wayne, shared the heartening news on Facebook, emphasizing Griffiths's peaceful passing on December 1st in his hometown of Llanelli, South Wales, surrounded by family.

Known for his inspiring coaching post-retirement in 1997, Griffiths mentored legends like Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, and Mark Allen.

The snooker community, including World Snooker Tour officials and players such as Judd Trump and Williams, expressed their condolences and shared heartfelt tributes, underscoring his impact as both a mentor and a 'legend' of the sport.

BBC presenter Jason Mohammad praised Griffiths for his significant contributions to Welsh snooker and his warmth in the broadcasting realm.