Former professional snooker player John Virgo has described his victory at the 1979 UK Championship as both “the best and worst day” of his life. The memorable match saw him narrowly defeat reigning world champion Terry Griffiths, but it was his struggle to arrive on time that nearly derailed the historic moment.
Virgo secured his title at Preston Guild Hall, a venue steeped in snooker history. Just before the final session, he received a phone call notifying him that the match start time had been moved forward to accommodate live coverage on the BBC’s Grandstand. He was caught off guard, still in his hotel room and unprepared for the match.
“I was in my hotel room and all of a sudden I get a phone call saying, ‘Where are you?’ because it was now ten to one,” Virgo recalled. “I said I wasn’t due, but because it was live on Grandstand they’d moved the start time to one o’clock. You can imagine my panic; I wasn’t even dressed!”
His frantic rush to the venue meant he was only 20 minutes late, but a new rule stipulated that players who arrived more than 15 minutes late would forfeit a frame. As a result, Virgo began the match at a disadvantage, with the score adjusted from 11-7 in his favour to 11-9.
In a twist of fate, Virgo managed to turn the situation around, ultimately winning the match 14-13. This victory not only marked his only major title but also set the stage for a successful period in his career, which included wins at the Bombay Classic and the Pontins Professional.
Yet, the day was marred by an unexpected industrial dispute; the BBC’s camera operators went on strike, leaving the moment without proper documentation. “I looked at the cameras, but they were unmanned,” he said. “It turned out there was an industrial dispute and the BBC cameramen went on strike! So although I beat Terry Griffiths, who was then world champion, there is no film of it because the BBC were on strike.”
Reflecting on the day, Virgo expressed the mix of emotions he felt. “It was the worst and best day of my life; I put it in that order. It was a rollercoaster.”
As the sport evolves, snooker players today benefit from better communication and scheduling practices, reducing the likelihood of such mishaps. Virgo’s experience serves as a reminder of the pressures athletes face in high-stakes situations.
While no UK Championship title can ever be won easily, Virgo’s story encapsulates the drama and unpredictability that define the sport.
