Snooker World Gathers in Sheffield to Remember John Virgo
john virgo was remembered in Sheffield on Thursday as fans, players and familiar voices from the sport gathered for a memorial service ahead of the start of this year’s World Snooker Championship on Saturday. The service took place at Sheffield Cathedral, a short walk from the Crucible, where the sport’s biggest event is set to begin. John Virgo died in February aged 79, and the memorial brought together current and former players, as well as his widow, Rosie Ries.
Tributes at Sheffield Cathedral
The memorial service drew a wide cross-section of the snooker world to the city’s cathedral, underscoring how closely john virgo was tied to the game’s identity. Among those present were former world champion and pundit Ken Doherty, seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Dennis Taylor, John Parrot, and several players due to compete in this year’s tournament, including Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen and Mark Williams.
Doherty described Virgo as a “wonderful character” whose voice was “synonymous with snooker. ” He added that Virgo had the ability to draw listeners in, tell a story and build drama in the commentary box, calling that skill “an art in itself. ”
A voice that shaped the sport
Virgo was born in Salford and became widely known as a commentator after his playing career. He had reached the World Snooker Championship semi-finals at the Crucible in 1979 and played professionally for 18 years before joining the in 1994. His final commentary came in January, 17 days before his death, for the 2026 Masters final.
He was also known to television audiences for presenting Big Break alongside Jim Davidson from 1991 to 2002. Outside the cathedral, fan Jim Fitzpatrick said he would remember Virgo as “funny” and someone who “didn’t take sport too seriously. ”
Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor pay tribute
Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor were among those who used Thursday’s memorial to reflect on Virgo’s place in the sport. Dennis Taylor said Virgo was loved not only by snooker fans around the world, but also for what he did on Big Break and for his work in pantomime.
The mood in Sheffield was one of respect and shared memory, with players and fans marking the loss of a figure many saw as part of the fabric of the sport. For those inside and outside the cathedral, john virgo was not only a former player and commentator, but a familiar presence who helped shape how snooker was heard and remembered.
What happens next
With the World Snooker Championship beginning on Saturday, the memorial came at a moment when the sport is already gathered in Sheffield. The tribute ensured that john virgo was remembered at the heart of snooker’s home city, just days before the season’s biggest event begins at the Crucible.
