His Llanelli accent – delivered in comfortable, hushed tones – and dry wit made him immediately recognisable amongst viewers.
And whereas many will bear in mind Griffiths for his on-air quips and, earlier, his cautious model of play, he additionally achieved notable success as a coach after retiring in 1997.
He tutored a number of main gamers, together with world champions similar to Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, Ken Doherty and John Parrott.
Born in Llanelli in 1947, Griffiths labored as a postman, insurance coverage salesman, miner and bus conductor throughout a protracted and profitable beginner profession.
He gained the Welsh Newbie Championship in 1975 and the English Newbie Championship in 1977 and 1978 earlier than turning skilled in 1978.
Griffiths needed to qualify for his first World Championship in 1979 and, after doing so, he beat Perrie Mans within the first spherical and the nice Alex Higgins within the quarter-finals.
After overcoming Eddie Charlton in an epic semi-final, Griffiths declared in a post-match interview which has been replayed many occasions since: “I am within the remaining now, you recognize!”
Griffiths then defeated 1985 champion Taylor 24-16 within the remaining to win the coveted world title at his first try.
Later in 1979, he was a part of the Welsh staff, alongside Ray Reardon and Doug Mountjoy, that gained the inaugural World Cup of snooker, beating England 14-3.
Griffiths’ victories on the 1980 Masters and 1982 UK Championship imply he’s considered one of solely 11 gamers to have accomplished snooker’s Triple Crown.
Though these had been his final rating titles, Griffiths reached a second World Championship remaining in 1988, the place he was crushed by his outdated rival and six-time world champion Steve Davis.
Griffiths by no means beat Davis in seven Crucible encounters, however the two gamers had been outstanding characters in a golden period for snooker.
The Nineteen Eighties made gamers family names as they appeared on primetime tv exhibits similar to Pot Black, which Griffiths gained in 1984.
The Nineteen Nineties had been comparatively lean for Griffiths however he retired on his phrases, nonetheless ranked twenty third on the earth.
His remaining match was the primary spherical of the 1997 World Championship, the place he was crushed in a final-frame decider by his fellow Welshman and a participant he would ultimately coach to a world title, Mark Williams.
