Terry Griffiths
{{Short description|Welsh snooker player (1947–2024)}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{For|the Australian politician|Terry Griffiths (politician)}}
{{Infobox snooker player
| name = Terry Griffiths
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|size=100%|GBR|OBE}}
| image = Terry Griffith 1991 (cropped).jpg
| alt = Upper-body shot of Terry Griffiths, a white middle-age man wearing a suit, playing snooker.
| caption = Griffiths in 1991
| birth_date = {{birth date|1947|10|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|1|1947|10|16|df=y}}
| death_place = Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
| Sport country = {{WAL}}
| Professional = 1978–1997
| High ranking = 3 (1981/82)
| Official maximums =
| Ranking wins = 1
| World champ = 1979
}}
Terence Martin Griffiths (16{{nbsp}}October 1947{{snd}}1{{nbsp}}December 2024) was a Welsh professional snooker player, coach and pundit. After winning several amateur titles, including the Welsh Amateur Championship in 1975 and back-to-back English Amateur Championships in 1977 and 1978, Griffiths turned professional in June 1978 at the age of 30.
In his second professional tournament, he qualified for the 1979 World Snooker Championship. He reached the final of the event where he defeated Dennis Taylor by 24 {{cuegloss|frame|frames}} to 16. This was only the second time a qualifier had won the World Snooker Championship, after Alex Higgins in 1972; only Shaun Murphy in 2005, and Zhao Xintong in 2025 has since emulated the achievement. In 1988, Griffiths again reached the final of the competition. He was tied with Steve Davis, 8–8, but lost the match 11–18.
Griffiths reached at least the quarter-finals of the World Championship for nine consecutive years, from 1984 to 1992. He also won the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982, completing snooker's Triple Crown. Griffiths was runner-up at the Masters three times and reached the final of the 1989 European Open, where he lost the {{cuegloss|deciding frame}} to John Parrott.
Although he also won several other tournaments, Griffiths's determination to match his rival Davis led to changes in technique which commentators said cost him his natural flair for playing. He retired from the professional tour in 1996 to become the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association's director of coaching. During his coaching career, he worked with leading players including Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and Ding Junhui. Griffiths died in December 2024, aged 77.
Early years
Griffiths was born in Llanelli on 16 October 1947.{{Cite news |date=16 June 2007 |title=The Queen's birthday honours |work=The Times |page=74 |quote=Terence Martin Griffiths services to snooker}}{{sfn|Morrison|1988|pp=39–42}} He was admitted to a grammar school but was expelled for truancy and became a student at a secondary modern school, where he played rugby union with future Welsh national-team members Phil Bennett and Derek Quinnell.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pp=95–102}} Griffiths began playing snooker when he was 14. After leaving school, he worked in a coal mine and became the youngest winner of the Llanelli and District snooker championship at age 16.{{sfn|Morrison|1988|pp=39–42}}{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pp=95–102}} Griffiths subsequently began working as a bus conductor, a job which gave him more time to practise.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pp=95–102}} He later worked as a postman{{Cite news |date=12 April 2002 |title=1979: Griffiths creates miracle |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/world_champs_2002/1921202.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030404174059/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/world_champs_2002/1921202.stm |archive-date=4 April 2003 |access-date=15 July 2008 |work=BBC Sport}} and as an insurance salesman.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pp=95–102}}
At age 17, Griffiths won the West Wales snooker championship.{{sfn|Everton|1981|p=70}} When he was 18 and working as a bus conductor, he met Annette, and the couple married in 1969.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Maria |date=16 November 1997 |title=I had fame. I had fortune. But I could never have the baby girl we longed for |work=Wales on Sunday |page=2}}{{sfn|Morrison|1988|p=42}} They had their first son, Wayne, a year-and-a-half after their wedding, and their other son, Darren, two years later. Griffiths compiled his first century break at age 24, the first year he entered the Welsh Amateur Championship (where he was runner-up).{{sfn|Everton|1981|p=70}} Griffiths played in the amateur home internationals fourteen times, winning twelve of his matches; after winning the Welsh Amateur Championship in 1975, he reached the quarter-finals of the 1976 World Amateur Snooker Championship.{{sfn|Everton|1981|p=70}}{{sfn|Everton|1981|pp=150–153}} He won the English Amateur Championship in 1977 by defeating Sid Hood 13–3 in the final, and retained the title in 1978 by winning 13–6 against Joe Johnson.{{sfn|Morrison|1987|p=37}}
Professional career
=1978–1982=
Griffiths became a professional player on 1 June 1978 after he was accepted as a member by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) at its meeting during the 1978 World Snooker Championship.{{Cite magazine |last= |date=June 1978 |title=New professionals |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=27}} Anticipating his acceptance as a professional, Snooker Scene said in May 1978 that "his power screws and long potting are second to no one's ... it will not be in the least surprising, if very soon he becomes a serious challenger for snooker's top professional titles."{{Cite magazine |last= |date=May 1978 |title=Every inch a pro |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=3}}
In his first professional match, qualifying for the 1978 UK Championship, Griffiths lost 8–9 to Rex Williams after leading 8–2. Williams took a 2–1 lead; Griffiths won the next seven frames, and Williams took the following seven. In the {{cuegloss|deciding frame}}, Griffiths rushed when potting the {{cuegloss|pink ball}} and went {{cuegloss|in-off}}, a {{cuegloss|foul}} shot. Williams later potted the pink for the victory.{{Cite magazine |last= |date=October 1978 |title=United Kingdom professional championship qualifying section |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=9–10}} After qualifying for the 1979 World Championship by eliminating Bernard Bennett 9–2 (from 0–2 behind) and Jim Meadowcroft 9–6 (from 6–6),{{Cite magazine |last= |date=May 1979 |title=Embassy world professional championship |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=7–12}} Griffiths defeated the previous year's runner-up Perrie Mans 13–8 in the first round and Alex Higgins 13–12 in the quarter-finals.{{sfn|Everton|2012|pp=73–74}} After beating Eddie Charlton 19–17 in a long semi-final which finished at 1:40 am,{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=34–35}} Griffiths told interviewer David Vine: "I'm in the final now, you know."{{Cite web |title=Hall of Fame – Terry Griffiths |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/halloffame/sport/terrygriffiths.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306194954/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/halloffame/sport/terrygriffiths.shtml |archive-date=6 March 2005 |access-date=14 July 2008 |website=BBC |df=dmy-all}} In the final, he faced Dennis Taylor, who had been a professional since 1973 and was also playing in his first World Championship final.{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=34–35}} The match was close for the first four of the six {{cuegloss|session|sessions}} and level at 15–15 before Griffiths took a 17–16 lead and won 24–16,{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=34–35}} becoming world champion at his first attempt{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=34–35}}{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pp=95–102}} in his second tournament as a professional. The result saw him placed eighth in the Snooker world rankings 1979/1980.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|p=119}} He was the second player to win the championship after playing in qualifying competition (after Higgins in 1972), and the first to win it at the Crucible in Sheffield, the venue for the championship since 1977, as a qualifier. By 2021, the only other player to achieve this was Shaun Murphy in 2005.{{Cite web |last=Sutcliffe |first=Steve |date=1 May 2021 |title=World Snooker Championship: Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy to meet in final |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/56952295 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503081836/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/56952295 |archive-date=3 May 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite web |last=Chowdhury |first=Saj |date=2 May 2005 |title=Qualifier Murphy wins world title |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/4504233.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125184413/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/4504233.stm |archive-date=25 November 2021 |access-date=23 July 2021 |website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite news |last=Flynn |first=Rachel |date=11 April 2023 |title=2023 World Snooker Championship Sheffield: city centre 'would die' without tournament at The Crucible |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/people/2023-world-snooker-championship-sheffield-city-centre-would-die-without-tournament-at-the-crucible-4100411 |access-date=25 April 2023 |work=The Star}}
Griffiths reached the final of the 1979 Canadian Open the following season, losing 16–17 to Cliff Thorburn,{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} and was part of the Welsh team that won the inaugural World Cup of snooker; Ray Reardon, Doug Mountjoy and Griffiths defeated England 14–3 in the final.{{Cite magazine |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=December 1979 |title=A successful experiment |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=3}}{{Cite magazine |date=December 1979 |title=State Express world cup |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=5–9}} At the end of 1979, Griffiths faced John Virgo in the UK Championship final. Virgo had been penalised two frames for arriving late to a session (not realising that the start time had been moved up as requested by the television broadcasters), which reduced his lead to 9–11. When the scores were 11–11, Griffiths offered to split the prize money. Virgo declined and went on to win the match, 14–13.{{Cite news |last=Goodman |first=Alex |date=4 December 1979 |title=It's time sportmen took their cue from Terry |work=Newcastle Evening Chronicle |page=43}}{{Cite web |last=Metcalfe |first=Nick |date=14 February 2021 |title=Nick Metcalfe's 10 favourite UK Championship moments including Ronnie O'Sullivan and Doug Mountjoy |url=https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/ronnie-special-and-mountjoy-comeback/186778 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722143213/https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/ronnie-special-and-mountjoy-comeback/186778 |archive-date=22 July 2021 |access-date=22 July 2021 |website=Sporting Life}}
Griffiths was named the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year for 1979,{{Cite news |date=10 December 2012 |title=BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year winners |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/wales/20670643 |access-date=25 September 2023 |work=BBC Sport}} and was the subject for a This Is Your Life episode the following year.{{sfn|Hayes|2004|pp=31–35}} He won the 1980 Masters, defeating Alex Higgins 9–5 in front of 2,323 spectators (a record crowd for a UK snooker event) at the Wembley Conference Centre after compiling a break of 131 to win the decisive frame.{{Cite magazine |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=March 1980 |title=Masters sets up Griffiths for world title defence |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=3}} It was his first Masters appearance and his only Masters title, although he was runner-up at the event three times in the subsequent four years.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} He also won the 1980 Irish Masters, defeating Mountjoy 10–9 in the final.{{Cite magazine |date=April 1980 |title=Griffiths takes Irish masters |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=23}}
Defending champion at the 1980 World Championship, Griffiths lost the first seven frames against Davis in his first match and ended the first session trailing 1–7.{{Cite news |last= |date=25 April 1980 |title=Champion finds himself on his knees |work=The Times |location=London |page=13}} Davis won the opening frame of the second session to extend his lead to 8–1, and had a seven-frame lead again at 10–3 before Griffiths won three frames to end the session 6–10 behind.{{Cite news |last= |date=26 April 1980 |title=Griffiths regains touch to move back from brink |work=The Times |location=London |page=17}} In the third session, Griffiths won the first four frames to level at 10–10; Davis won the next three for a 13–10 victory, which included a 116 break in the 22nd frame.{{Cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=26 April 1980 |title=The dawn of a new Davis |work=The Guardian |location=London |page=21}} With this first-round defeat, Griffiths became the first victim of the so-called "Crucible curse", a term later adopted to describe the failure of any first-time champion to defend their title at the venue.{{Cite news |date=17 April 2016 |title=The Crucible Curse – Champions who have failed to defend first title in Sheffield |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/crucible-curse-champions-who-have-failed-defend-first-title-sheffield-1799955 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510142942/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/crucible-curse-champions-who-have-failed-defend-first-title-sheffield-1799955 |archive-date=10 May 2021 |access-date=9 May 2021 |work=Yorkshire Post}} He moved up three places in the annual rankings, to fifth for 1980/1981.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|p=119}}
Griffiths and his Wales teammates retained the 1980 World Challenge Cup,{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=98–99}} and he again won the Irish Masters in 1981 before losing to eventual winner Davis in the quarter-finals of the 1981 World Snooker Championship.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} Griffiths lost 3–16 to Davis in the 1981 UK Championship final, the first of five finals in consecutive events contested by the pair.{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=96}} Griffiths won two of the five, winning 9–8 on the final black in the deciding frame of the 1982 Classic after Davis had recovered from 3–8 to 8–8.{{sfn|Everton|2012|pp=95–96}} He also won the 1982 Irish Masters, his third consecutive title at the event, defeating Davis 9–5 in the final.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} After Tony Knowles's surprise 10–1 win over Davis in the first round of the 1982 World Championship, Griffiths became the bookmakers' favourite for the title. However, Griffiths also exited in the first round, losing 6–10 to Willie Thorne.{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=96}} Despite this, he advanced again in the rankings, achieving third place, which would be his highest-ever ranking, in 1981/1982.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=119–122}} He won the 1982 UK Championship at the end of the year, defeating Alex Higgins 16–15 in the final.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}}
=1983–1989=
Griffiths won several further invitational events, including Pot Black in 1984, and the 1984 Malaysian Masters (where he topped a round-robin group in which Tony Meo was the runner-up).{{Cite news |date=30 August 1984 |title=Griffiths on form |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |page=10}} He also gained titles at the 1984 Singapore Masters, where he also topped a round-robin group in which Davis was the runner-up;{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Other Non-Ranking and Invitational Events |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/misc2.html#Sing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216160458/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/misc2.html#Sing |archive-date=16 February 2012 |access-date=20 December 2019 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}} and the 1985 Hong Kong Masters, where he defeated Davis 4–2. The 1985–86 snooker season saw Griffiths win the Welsh Professional Championship for the first time after defeating Mountjoy 9–4.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} He also won the 1986 Belgian Classic, where he saw off Kirk Stevens 9–7 in the final.{{sfn|Nickless|1986|pp=34–35}}
File:Llanelli - Terry Griffiths Matchroom viewed from the east (geograph 3054941).jpg
His ranking had dropped to fourteenth in 1982/1983 when his 1979 points were no longer counted towards his total, which at the time was calculated purely on the basis of results of the preceding three world championships.{{Cite magazine |date=June 1982 |title=New world rankings |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=29}} He improved to ninth rank in 1983/1984, and was eighth for both 1984/1985 and 1985/1986 before falling to tenth for 1986/1987.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=119–122}}
Two months before the 1986 World Snooker Championship, Griffiths began working with coach Frank Callan.{{sfn|Nickless|1986|pp=34–35}} After eliminating Higgins 13–12 in the last 16, he praised Callan for helping his game: "I tried to do the right things myself for three years{{nbsp}}... Frank has knitted it all together for me. I didn't think anyone knew that much about snooker."{{sfn|Nickless|1986|pp=34–35}} He led eventual winner Johnson 12–9 in their quarter-final match, but Johnson won four consecutive frames, two with century breaks, for a 13–12 victory.{{sfn|Nickless|1986|pp=34–35}}{{Cite news |last=Friskin |first=Sydney |date=1 May 1986 |title=Snooker: Dramatic victory for Johnson |work=The Times |location=London |page=38}}{{Cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=4 May 1986 |title=Snooker: Inspired Johnson into final |work=The Sunday Times |location=London |via=NewsBank}} He ended the season by winning the 1986 Pontins Professional, defeating Willie Thorne in the final.{{sfn|Nickless|1986|pp=34–35}}
Griffiths was the only player to reach the televised stages of each ranking tournament in the 1986–87 season, but did not reach the semi-finals in any of them. At the end of the season, he moved up four places in the rankings to sixth.{{sfn|Smith|1987|p=38}} He won the Welsh Professional Championship again in 1986, defeating Doug Mountjoy 9–3.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} In 1987, Griffiths opened a billiard hall: the Terry Griffiths Matchroom in Llanelli.{{sfn|Hayes|2004|pp=31–35}} The next year, he won the 1988 Welsh Professional Championship final 9–3 against Wayne Jones.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}}
At the 1988 World Snooker Championship, Griffiths defeated Steve Longworth, Willie Thorne, Neal Foulds and Jimmy White to reach his second world final, but lost 11–18 to defending champion Davis.{{sfn|Downer|2019|pp=26–27}} The players had been level at 8–8 after the first of two days' play in the final, and Terry Smith of The Daily Telegraph said after the match: "Griffiths knows he produced his best snooker since he became world champion in 1979, and still lost."{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Terry |date=3 May 1988 |title=Griffiths fades as Davis cruises to fifth title |work=The Daily Telegraph |page=30}} The 1989 European Open was his only final the following season.{{sfn|Smith|1989||pp=31–32}} Although Griffiths won four of the first five frames, John Parrott tied the scores at 4–4 after the first session. Griffiths later led 8–7, but Parrott won the match (and his first major title) 9–8.{{Cite magazine |last= |date=March 1989 |title=Final |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=16–17}}
=1989–1997=
In the 1989–90 snooker season, Griffiths reached the semi-finals of the 1989 Asian Open and the 1989 UK Championship and the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Snooker Championship. His only final was in the 1989 Scottish Masters, where he lost 1–10 to Stephen Hendry. Griffiths dropped one place in the world rankings, to sixth, at the end of the season.{{sfn|Smith||1990|pp=32–33}} The following season, he was again runner-up to Hendry at the Scottish Masters; he had little success in other ranking events, however, and fell from sixth to eleventh place at the season's end.{{sfn|Smith|1991|p=33}}
Griffiths moved back into sixth place after the 1991–92 season, during which he reached three ranking semi-finals, including that of the 1992 World Championship, where he scored victories over Bob Chaperon, Neal Foulds and Peter Ebdon before losing to Stephen Hendry.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}}{{Cite magazine |date=June 1992 |title=Official world rankings 199–92 |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=24–25}} His best performance at a ranking tournament the following season was the semi-final of the 1992 Grand Prix, which he lost 6–9 to Ken Doherty; his best showings at ranking tournaments over the next three seasons were a single quarter-final appearance in each.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}}
At the 1996 World Snooker Championship, Griffiths eliminated Jamie Burnett 10–9 in a first-round final-frame decider after trailing 0–6 and 5–9. In the second round, he lost to old rival Steve Davis (whom he never defeated at the Crucible in six attempts) and announced his retirement from the game to become the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association's Director of Coaching.{{Cite magazine |date=June 1996 |title=Terry Griffiths retires to become W.P.B.S.A.'s director of coaching |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=16}} Griffiths retired at 23rd in the rankings (the first year since his debut season that he had not been in the top 16).{{Cite news |last=Stenson |first=Tony |date=24 March 1997 |title=Still potty after all these years |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Still+POTTY+after+all+these+years.-a061117799 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220015717/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Still+POTTY+after+all+these+years.-a061117799 |archive-date=20 December 2013 |access-date=28 April 2014 |work=Daily Mirror}} Clive Everton wrote that Griffiths was "the only player to retire when his standard was still in touch with the circuit's top players."{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=462}}
At the 1997 World Championship, Griffiths came out of retirement, and won his qualifying match against Alfie Burden 10–4, to play in the main tournament at the Crucible one last time.{{Cite magazine |date=May 1997 |title=Griffiths earns right to take last Crucible bow |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=13}}{{Cite news |last=Philip |first=Robert |date=14 April 1997 |title=Griffiths finally calls time on career in Crucible spotlight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-griffiths-finally-ca/130276796/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819151559/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-griffiths-finally-ca/130276796/ |archive-date=19 August 2023 |access-date=19 August 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |page=S9}}{{Cite news |date=26 March 1997 |title=Sports round-up: snooker |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-sports-round-up-sno/130276404/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819151558/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-sports-round-up-sno/130276404/ |archive-date=19 August 2023 |access-date=19 August 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |page=44}} He led fellow countryman Mark Williams 9–8, but lost the next two frames, each on the final {{cuegloss|black ball}}, and was eliminated 9–10.{{Cite news |last=Dee |first=John |date=21 April 1997 |title=Williams' late push too much for Griffiths |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-williams-late-push/130277046/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820114013/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph-williams-late-push/130277046/ |archive-date=20 August 2023 |access-date=20 August 2023 |work=The Daily Telegraph |page=S10}} During his professional career, he played a total of 999 frames at the Crucible.{{Cite web |date=11 March 2008 |title=Crucible 2008 – some potential milestones |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A33342923 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924205740/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A33342923 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=28 April 2014 |website=BBC Sport}}
In their book, Masters of the Baize, Luke Williams and Paul Gadsby wrote that Griffiths may have won more tournaments if he had not adjusted his playing technique to challenge Davis.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pp=95–102}} Gordon Burn reported in his 1986 book, Pocket Money, that Ray Reardon felt that Griffiths began to decline as a player after he signed a management contract with Barry Hearn (Davis's manager) at the end of the 1981–82 season and changes Griffiths made to his stance and cueing cost him his "natural flair".{{sfn|Burn|2008|p=21}} Burn wrote that after Hearn became Griffiths's manager, "In the first year, Hearn tripled Griffiths's income and halved his work."{{sfn|Burn|2008|p=21}} He quotes Griffiths: "I just found it difficult to accept that there was a better player than me in the world", but "I wasn't even getting at Steve Davis, because other players were beating me first."{{sfn|Burn|2008|p=22}} Everton wrote about Griffiths's change of technique, "While he acquired an encyclopaedic technical knowledge in the process and maintained an admirable consistency, he could never quite recapture the flair and inspiration that had brought him the world title." As winner of the World Championship, UK Championship and Masters during his career, Griffiths achieved the snooker Triple Crown.{{Cite web |date=11 January 2020 |title=Triple crown winners to wear new icon |url=https://wst.tv/triple-crown-winners-to-wear-new-icon/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200221185012/https://wst.tv/triple-crown-winners-to-wear-new-icon/ |archive-date=21 February 2020 |access-date=20 July 2021 |website=World Snooker Tour}}{{Cite web |date=8 December 2013 |title=Neil Robertson fights back against Mark Selby to win UK Championship |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/08/neil-robertson-mark-selby-uk-championship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822054235/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/08/neil-robertson-mark-selby-uk-championship |archive-date=22 August 2017 |access-date=20 July 2021 |newspaper=The Guardian}}
Later career, retirement and death
Griffiths resigned as the WPBSA director of coaching in 1998, describing the association as "a hopeless set-up with no one giving the staff any direction at all."{{sfn|Everton|2012|p=226}} He coached a number of top players, including Mark Allen, Ali Carter, Ding Junhui, Marco Fu, Barry Hawkins, Stephen Hendry, Stephen Maguire, Joe Perry and Mark Williams.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2015 |title=Griffiths to coach six players |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/griffiths-to-coach-six-players/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621013232/http://www.worldsnooker.com/griffiths-to-coach-six-players/ |archive-date=21 June 2015 |access-date=18 June 2015 |website=World Snooker}}{{Cite web |last=Philips |first=Owen |date=3 May 2013 |title=Terry Griffiths: Snooker legend is the 'go-to' guru |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/22340261 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518235319/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/22340261 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |access-date=19 May 2021 |website=BBC Sport}} Griffiths said about his coaching that "it used to be a lot of technical stuff years ago – probably 90% on the technical side. Now it's the other way about, perhaps 80–20% on the mental side." He was the director of coaching at the South West Snooker Academy,{{Cite web |title=Coaching |url=http://southwestsnookeracademy.com/swsa-services/snooker-coaching.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429080114/http://southwestsnookeracademy.com/swsa-services/snooker-coaching.html |archive-date=29 April 2014 |access-date=28 April 2014 |website=South West Snooker Academy}} and a snooker commentator for the BBC.{{Cite web |title=Terry Griffiths |url=https://wst.tv/players/terry-griffiths/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224234852/https://wst.tv/players/terry-griffiths/ |archive-date=24 February 2021 |access-date=18 May 2021 |website=World Snooker Tour}}
Griffiths received an OBE appointment in 2007 for his "services to snooker".{{Cite web |date=15 June 2007 |title=Botham honoured with knighthood |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/6756417.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702080947/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/6756417.stm |archive-date=2 July 2007 |access-date=19 May 2021 |website=BBC}} He launched "SQ", a handicapping system for snooker, in 2021. His son, Wayne Griffiths, is head snooker coach at the Hong Kong Sports Institute and has coached three-time women's world champion Ng On-yee.{{Cite news |last=Careem |first=Nazvi |date=2 May 2021 |title=Hong Kong coach Wayne Griffiths part of World Snooker's plans to grow game globally |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3131932/hong-kong-coach-wayne-griffiths-part-world-snookers-plans-grow-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518235318/https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3131932/hong-kong-coach-wayne-griffiths-part-world-snookers-plans-grow-game |archive-date=18 May 2021 |access-date=19 May 2021 |work=South China Morning Post}} During his career, Griffiths won over a million pounds in prize money.{{Cite magazine |last= |date=June 2002 |title=Snooker's all time earners |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=34}}
In 2024, his family announced that he had dementia.{{Cite magazine |last=Stead |first=Marcus |date=April 2024 |title=Terry Griffiths – some sad news |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=4}} He died in his hometown of Llanelli, on 1 December 2024, at the age of 77.{{Cite web |date=2 December 2024 |title=Terry Griffiths: Former world snooker champion dies after lengthy battle with dementia |url=https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/snooker/news/12040/13265097/terry-griffiths-former-world-snooker-champion-dies-after-lengthy-battle-with-dementia |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite web |date=1 December 2024 |title=Former world snooker champion Griffiths dies aged 77 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/articles/c5y78g8828xo |access-date=2 December 2024 |website=BBC News}}
Performance and rankings timeline
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! Tournament ! 1978/ ! 1979/ ! 1980/ ! 1981/ ! 1982/ ! 1983/ ! 1984/ ! 1985/ ! 1986/ ! 1987/ ! 1988/ ! 1989/ ! 1990/ ! 1991/ ! 1992/ ! 1993/ ! 1994/ ! 1995/ ! 1996/ ! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference)s_}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Ranking
| align="center" |{{efn|New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking.}} | align="center" |8 | align="center" |5 | align="center" |3 | align="center" |14 | align="center" |9 | align="center" |8 | align="center" |8 | align="center" |10 | align="center" |6 | align="center" |5 | align="center" |5 | align="center" |6 | align="center" |11 | align="center" |6 | align="center" |8 | align="center" |14 | align="center" |15 | align="center" |23 | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=119–122}} |
| colspan="21" | Ranking tournaments |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Asian Classic{{efn|name="DUB" | The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989), Dubai Classic (1989/90–1994/1995) and Thailand Classic (1995/1996).{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Dubai Classic, Dubai Masters, Bahrain Snooker Championship |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mideast.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107153823/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mideast.html |archive-date=7 January 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NR | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Grand Prix{{efn|The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/1983–1983/1984).{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Professional Players Tournament, Grand Prix, LG Cup |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/GP.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155938/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/GP.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | UK Championship
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Non-Ranking Event | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | German Open
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="17" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Welsh Open
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | International Open{{efn|name="GOYA" | The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986).{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=International Open, Goya Matchroom Trophy |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/int.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155037/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/int.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3" | Not Held | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NR | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2" | Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | European Open
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Thailand Open{{efn|name="THAI" | The event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987 & 1991/1992) and the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993).{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Thailand Open, Thailand Classic, Thailand Masters |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Thai.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155548/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Thai.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | Non-Ranking Event | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2" | Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | British Open{{efn|name="BO" | The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984).{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=British Open Including British Gold Cup, Yamaha Organs Trophy and Yamaha International Masters |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/brit.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155129/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/brit.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}}
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Non-Ranking Event | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World Championship
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| colspan="21" | Non-ranking tournaments |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Scottish Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3" | Not Held | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Charity Challenge
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="16" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | The Masters
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | WR | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Seniors Pot Black
| align="center" colspan="18" style="color:#555555;" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Irish Masters
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Pontins Professional
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | RR | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Matchroom League{{efn|The event was later called the Premier League.{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Premier/Matchroom League, Matchroom Championship League |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/league.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216154905/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/league.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2" | Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | RR | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | RR | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | RR | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A
|
| colspan="21" | Former ranking tournaments |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Canadian Masters{{efn|name="CANO" | The event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981).{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Canadian Masters |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/canmast.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155138/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/canmast.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3" | Non-Ranking | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3" | Non-Ranking | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Hong Kong Open|{{efn|name="AUS2" | The event was also called the Australian Open (1994/1995).{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Australian Masters |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/AustMas.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930185746/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/AustMas.html |archive-date=30 September 2010 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}}
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9" | Ranking Event | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2" | Ranking | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Classic
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | Non-Ranking Event | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 3R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Strachan Open
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | MR | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NR | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3" | Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| colspan="21" | Former non-ranking tournaments |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Champion of Champions
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | RR | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="16" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{Cite magazine |last= |date=November 1980 |title=Champion of champions |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=6–11}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | International Open{{efn|name="GOYA"}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3" | Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8" | Ranking Event | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2" | Not Held | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Ranking Event | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Northern Ireland Classic
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3" | Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="15" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Classic
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9" | Ranking Event | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Tolly Cobbold Classic
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13" | Ranking Event | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}}{{Cite magazine |last= |date=April 1980 |title=Higgins wins tournament but loses friends |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=25}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | UK Championship
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13" | Ranking Event | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | British Open{{efn|name="BO"}}
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | RR | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | RR | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13" | Ranking Event | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}}{{Cite magazine |last= |date=April 1980 |title=Success story: the British gold cup |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=5–7}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Singapore Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11" | Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | KitKat Break for World Champions
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Belgian Classic
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11" | Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Australian Masters{{efn|name="AUS" | The event was also called the Hong Kong Open (1989/1990) and Australian Open (1994/1995).{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Australian Masters |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/AustMas.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930185746/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/AustMas.html |archive-date=30 September 2010 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}}
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Malaysian Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" |{{Cite magazine |last= |date=October 1986 |title=Wattana's Thailand triumph |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=9}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | China Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Tokyo Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9" | Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Canadian Masters{{efn|name="CANO"}}
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Asian Classic{{efn|name="DUB"}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8" | Ranking Event | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | {{nowrap|Matchroom Professional Championship}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | London Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{Cite news |date=23 September 1988 |title=Hendry marches on |work=Manchester Evening News |page=79}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | International League
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | RR | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{Cite magazine |last= |date=July 1990 |title=Tony Meo wins Matchroom international league |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=34}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Norwich Union Grand Prix
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | European Grand Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF{{efn|Snooker Scene reported "Bond having arrived in the semi-final in unorthodox fashion by losing 3–0 to Griffiths in the quarter-finals".}} | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{Cite news |date=17 December 1990 |title=Thorburn comeback |work=Newcastle Journal |page=21}}{{Cite magazine |last= |date=February 1991 |title=Clark wins in Monte Carlo |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=31}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | {{nowrap|Welsh Professional Championship}}
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Thailand Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2" | Not Held | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2" | Ranking | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 2R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Ranking Event | align="center" |{{Cite magazine |date=September 1983 |title=Tony Meo's Thailand double |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=8}}{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=Brief History of Major Events in Thailand |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Thai.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155548/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Thai.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |access-date=20 December 2019 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}{{Cite magazine |last= |date=October 1991 |title=Davis starts new season well |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=21}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Hong Kong Challenge{{efn|The event was also called the Hong Kong Masters (1983/1984–1988/1989).}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:thistle;" | F | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Indian Challenge
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{Cite magazine |last= |date=October 1991 |title=Hendry survives scare and wins again |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=23}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | {{nowrap|World Seniors Championship}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{Cite magazine |last= |date=November 1991 |title=How Cliff Wilson became king of the golden oldies |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=17–19}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Belgian Challenge
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{Cite news |last=Yates |first=Phil |date=20 December 1991 |title=Parrott criticises pockets after defeat by Hallett |work=The Times |location=London |page=28}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Kent Classic{{efn|The event was also called the Kent Cup (1986/1987–1987/1988 & 1989/90–1990/91.}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | Tournament Not Held | align="center" |{{Cite magazine |date=April 1987 |title=Mammoth television audience sees Thorne win in Peking |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=25}}{{Cite magazine |last= |date=October 1992 |title=World Series: Parrott wins Kent Cup in Peking |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=16–17}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Belgian Masters
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2" | Not Held | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | NH | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | World Matchplay
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" | SF | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3" | Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=480–483}} |
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | Pot Black
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | RR | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | align="center" style="color:#555555;" | A | style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;" | W | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5" | Tournament Not Held | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | 1R | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;" | ?? | style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;" | QF | style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3" | Not Held | align="center" |{{sfn|Perrin|1984|pp=19–20}}* {{Cite web |date=19 March 1985 |title=Pot Black 85 |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/344c38cad8a348818da1c40a4d36b3de |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925152246/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/344c38cad8a348818da1c40a4d36b3de |archive-date=25 September 2023 |access-date=18 September 2023 |website=BBC Programme Index}}
|
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:78%;"
! colspan="6" | Performance Table Legend |
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;" | #R
| lost in the early rounds of the tournament | align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;" | QF | lost in the quarter-finals | align="center" style="background:yellow;" | SF | lost in the semi-finals |
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;" | F
| lost in the final | align="center" style="background:#00ff00;" | W | won the tournament | align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30" | A | did not participate in the tournament |
| align="center" | ??
| no reliable source available |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%" |
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | NH / Not Held
| means an event was not held. |
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | NR / Non-Ranking Event
| means an event is/was no longer a ranking event. |
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4" | R / Ranking Event
| means an event is/was a ranking event. |
Career finals
Sources for the ranking and non-ranking final results can be found in the Performance timeline section above.
=Ranking finals: 3 (1 title)=
| class="wikitable"
! Legend |
| bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| World Championship (1–1) |
| bgcolor=
| Other (0–1) |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Ranking tournament finals contested by Terry Griffiths ! scope="col" |Outcome ! scope="col" |No. ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Championship ! scope="col" |Opponent in the final ! scope="col" |Score |
| bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner | 1. | 1979 | data-sort-value="Taylor, Dennis" |{{flagathlete|Dennis Taylor|NIR}} | align="center" | 24–16 |
| bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up | 1. | 1988 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 11–18 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 2. | 1989 | data-sort-value="Parrott, John" |{{flagathlete|John Parrott|ENG}} | align="center" | 8–9 |
=Non-ranking finals: 40 (17 titles)=
| class="wikitable"
! Legend |
| bgcolor="dfe2e9"
| UK Championship (1–2){{efn|The UK Championship did not become a ranking event until 1984.{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris |title=UK Championship |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/uk.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216160153/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/uk.html |archive-date=16 February 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}}} |
| bgcolor="ffffcc"
| The Masters (1–3) |
| Other (15–19) |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Non-ranking tournament finals contested by Terry Griffiths ! scope="col" |Outcome ! scope="col" style="width:20px;" | No. ! scope="col" style="width:50px;" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:200px;" | Championship ! scope="col" style="width:200px;" | Opponent in the final ! scope="col" style="width:50px;" | Score |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 1. | 1979 | data-sort-value="Thorburn, Cliff" |{{flagathlete|Cliff Thorburn|CAN}} | align="center" | 16–17 |
| bgcolor="dfe2e9"
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up | 2. | 1979 | data-sort-value="Virgo, John" |{{flagathlete|John Virgo|ENG}} | align="center" | 13–14 |
| bgcolor="ffffcc"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner | 1. | 1980 | data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|Alex Higgins|NIR}} | align="center" | 9–5 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 2. | 1980 | data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|Doug Mountjoy|WAL}} | align="center" | 10–9 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 3. | 1980 | Canadian Open (2) | data-sort-value="Thorburn, Cliff" |{{flagathlete|Cliff Thorburn|CAN}} | align="center" | 10–17 |
| bgcolor="ffffcc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up | 4. | 1981 | data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|Alex Higgins|NIR}} | align="center" | 6–9 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 3. | 1981 | Irish Masters (2) | data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" |{{flagathlete|Ray Reardon|WAL}} | align="center" | 9–7 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 4. | 1981 | data-sort-value="Thorne, Willie" |{{flagathlete|Willie Thorne|ENG}} | align="center" | 9–8 |
| bgcolor="dfe2e9"
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up | 5. | 1981 | UK Championship (2) | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 3–16 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 5. | 1982 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 9–8 |
| bgcolor="ffffcc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up | 6. | 1982 | The Masters (2) | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 5–9 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 7. | 1982 | Welsh Professional Championship | data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|Doug Mountjoy|WAL}} | align="center" | 8–9 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 8. | 1982 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 7–9 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 6. | 1982 | Irish Masters (3) | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 9–5 |
| bgcolor="dfe2e9"
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner | 7. | 1982 | data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|Alex Higgins|NIR}} | align="center" | 16–15 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 9. | 1983 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 5–7 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 10. | 1983 | data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|Doug Mountjoy|WAL}} | align="center" | 3–4 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 8. | 1984 | data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|John Spencer|ENG}} | align="center" | 2–1 |
| bgcolor="ffffcc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up | 11. | 1984 | The Masters (3) | data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" |{{flagathlete|Jimmy White|ENG}} | align="center" | 5–9 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 12. | 1984 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 1–9 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 13. | 1984 | data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" |{{flagathlete|Jimmy White|ENG}} | align="center" | 3–4 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 9. | 1984 | data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" |{{flagathlete|Tony Meo|ENG}} | align="center" data-sort-value=99|{{nowrap|Round-Robin}}{{efn|name="NOPLAYO" | No play-off. Winner decided via a league format.}} |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 10. | 1984 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" data-sort-value=99|{{nowrap|Round-Robin}}{{efn|name="NOPLAYO"}} |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 11. | 1985 | Welsh Professional Championship | data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|Doug Mountjoy|WAL}} | align="center" | 9–4 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 12. | 1985 | Pontins Professional (2) | data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|John Spencer|ENG}} | align="center" | 9–7 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 13. | 1985 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 4–2 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 14. | 1985 | Thailand Masters (2) | data-sort-value="Taylor, Dennis" |{{flagathlete|Dennis Taylor|NIR}} | align="center" | 0–4 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 15. | 1985 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 2–4 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 14. | 1986 | data-sort-value="Stevens, Kirk" |{{flagathlete|Kirk Stevens|CAN}} | align="center" | 9–7 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 15. | 1986 | {{nowrap|Welsh Professional Championship (2)}} | data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|Doug Mountjoy|WAL}} | align="center" | 9–3 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 16. | 1986 | Pontins Professional (3) | data-sort-value="Thorne, Willie" |{{flagathlete|Willie Thorne|ENG}} | align="center" | 9–6 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 16. | 1986 | Thailand Masters (3) | data-sort-value="Wattana, James" |{{flagathlete|James Wattana|THA}} | align="center" | 1–2 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 17. | 1986 | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} | align="center" | 0–3 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 18. | 1987 | data-sort-value="Taylor, Dennis" |{{flagathlete|Dennis Taylor|NIR}} | align="center" | 3–6 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 19. | 1987 | data-sort-value="Johnson, Joe" |{{flagathlete|Joe Johnson|ENG}} | align="center" | 7–9 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 17. | 1988 | {{nowrap|Welsh Professional Championship (3) | data-sort-value="Jones, Wayne" |{{flagathlete|Wayne Jones|WAL}} | align="center" | 9–3 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 20. | 1989 | Welsh Professional Championship (2) | data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|Doug Mountjoy|WAL}} | align="center" | 6–9 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 21. | 1989 | Scottish Masters (2) | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" |{{flagathlete|Stephen Hendry|SCO}} | align="center" | 1–10 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 22. | 1990 | Scottish Masters (3) | data-sort-value="Hendry, Stephen" |{{flagathlete|Stephen Hendry|SCO}} | align="center" | 6–10 |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 23. | 1997 | data-sort-value="Johnson, Joe" |{{flagathlete|Joe Johnson|ENG}} | align="center" | 0–2 |
=Team finals: 5 (2 titles)=
| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+Team finals contested by Terry Griffiths |
| scope="col" width="80" | Outcome
!scope="col" width="20" | No. !scope="col" |Year !scope="col" |Championship !scope="col" | Team/partner !scope="col" |Opponent(s) in the final !scope="col" align="center" width="70" | Score !scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row" style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 1. | 1979 | {{flagcountry|WAL}} | {{flagcountry|ENG}} | align="center" | 14–3 |align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=98–99}} |
| scope="row" style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 2. | 1980 | World Challenge Cup (2) | {{flagcountry|WAL}} | {{flagcountry|CAN}} | align="center" | 8–5 |align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=98–99}} |
| scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 1. | 1981 | {{flagcountry|WAL}} | {{flagcountry|ENG}} | align="center" | 3–4 |align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=98–99}} |
| scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 2. | 1982 | data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|Doug Mountjoy|WAL}} | data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|Steve Davis|ENG}} and {{flagathlete|Tony Meo|ENG}} | align="center" | 2–13 |align="center" |{{sfn|Hale|1987|pp=224–225}} |
| scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 3. | 1983 | World Team Classic (2) | {{flagcountry|WAL}} | {{flagcountry|ENG}} | align="center" | 2–4 |align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=98–99}} |
=Pro-am finals: 2 (1 title)=
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Pro-am finals contested by Terry Griffiths ! scope="col" style="width:80px;" | Outcome ! scope="col" style="width:20px;" | No. ! scope="col" style="width:50px;" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:200px;" | Championship ! scope="col" style="width:200px;" | Opponent in the final ! scope="col" style="width:50px;" | Score ! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 1. | 1977 | data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|Alex Higgins|NIR}} | align="center" | 4–7 |{{sfn|Morrison|1987|p=100}} |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 1. | 1983 | data-sort-value="Reardon, Ray" |{{flagathlete|Ray Reardon|WAL}} | align="center" | 7–3 |{{sfn|Morrison|1987|p=100}} |
=Amateur finals: 4 (3 titles)=
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Amateur finals contested by Terry Griffiths ! scope="col" | Outcome ! scope="col" | No. ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Championship ! scope="col" | Opponent in the final ! scope="col" | Score ! class=unsortable scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| style="background:#ffa07a;" | Runner-up
| 1. | 1972 | data-sort-value="thomas, Geoff" |{{flagathlete|Geoff Thomas|WAL}} | align="center" | 2–6 |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 1. | 1975 | data-sort-value="thomas, Geoff" |{{flagathlete|Geoff Thomas|WAL}} | align="center" | 8–7 | align="center" |{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pp=95–102}} |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 2. | 1977 | English Amateur Championship | data-sort-value="Hood, Sid" |{{flagathlete|Sid Hood|ENG}} | align="center" | 13–3 | align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1987|p=37}} |
| style="background:#98FB98" | Winner
| 3. | 1978 | English Amateur Championship (2) | data-sort-value="Johnson, Joe" |{{flagathlete|Joe Johnson|ENG}} | align="center" | 13–6 | align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1987|p=37}} |
Publications
| class="wikitable"
! Year ! Title ! Authors ! Publisher ! ISBN |
| 1981
| Championship Snooker | Terry Griffiths with Clive Everton | Queen Anne Press, London | {{isbn|0362005435}} |
| 1984
| Complete Snooker | Terry Griffiths with Julian Worthington | Pelham, London | {{isbn|0720715024}} |
| 1989
| Griff : the Autobiography of Terry Griffiths | Terry Griffiths with Julian Worthington | Pelham, London | {{isbn|0720718864}} |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin|30em}}
- {{Cite book |last=Burn |first=Gordon |author-link=Gordon Burn |title=Pocket Money |publisher=Faber & Faber |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-571-23683-1 |location=London |orig-year=1986}}
- {{Cite book |last=Downer |first=Chris |title=Crucible Almanac |year=2019 |location=Bournemouth}}
- {{Cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |author-link=Clive Everton |title=The Guinness Book of Snooker |date=1981 |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |isbn=978-0-85112-230-4 |location=Enfield}}
- {{Cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Black Farce and Cue Ball Wizards |date=2012 |publisher=Mainstream |isbn=978-1-78057-568-1 |location=Edinburgh}}
- {{Cite book |last=Hale |first=Janice |title=Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1987–88 |date=1987 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=978-0-356-14690-4 |location=Aylesbury}}
- {{Cite book |last=Hayes |first=Dean |title=Snooker Legends: and Where are They Now? |publisher=Sutton |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7509-3233-2 |location=Stroud}}
- {{Cite book |last=Hayton |first=Eric |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History |last2=Dee |first2=John |date=2004 |publisher=Rose Villa Publications |isbn=978-0-9548549-0-4 |location=Lowestoft}}
- {{Cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |title=The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker |date=1987 |publisher=Hamlyn Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-600-55604-6 |edition=Revised |location=Twickenham}}
- {{Cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |title=Hamlyn Who's Who in Snooker |date=1988 |publisher=Hamlyn |isbn=978-0-600-55713-5 |location=London}}
- {{Cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |title=Snooker: Records, Facts and Champions |date=1989 |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |isbn=978-0-85112-364-6 |location=Enfield}}
- {{Cite book |last=Nickless |first=Graham |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |publisher=Pelham Books |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-86369-166-9 |editor-last=Everton |editor-first=Clive |edition=3rd |location=Aylesbury |chapter=Terry Griffiths}}
- {{Cite book |title=Pot Black |publisher=BBC Books |year=1984 |isbn=0563202939 |editor-last=Perrin |editor-first=Reg |location=London |orig-year=1975}}
- {{Cite book |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |publisher=Pelham Books |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-7207-1797-6 |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Terry |edition=4th |location=Aylesbury}}
- {{Cite book |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |date=1989 |publisher=Pelham Books |isbn=978-0-7207-1944-4 |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Terry |edition=6th |location=Aylesbury}}
- {{Cite book |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |date=1990 |publisher=Pelham Books |isbn=978-0-7207-1955-0 |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Terry |edition=7th |location=Aylesbury}}
- {{Cite book |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |date=1991 |publisher=Pelham Books |isbn=978-0-7207-1983-3 |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Terry |edition=8th |location=London}}
- {{Cite book |last=Williams |first=Luke |title=Masters of the Baize |last2=Gadsby |first2=Paul |date=2005 |publisher=Mainstream |isbn=978-1-84018-872-1 |location=Edinburgh}}
{{refend}}
External links
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328225901/https://www.terrygriffithssnooker.com/ |date=dmy |title=Official website}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{Snooker.org player}}
- {{WST player|terry-griffiths|archive=20231201235228}}
{{World snooker champions}}
{{UK Championship winners}}
{{Masters winners}}
{{BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year winners}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Cue sports|Wales}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffiths, Terry}}
Category:Deaths from dementia in Wales
Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters
Category:Masters (snooker) champions
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Snooker players from Llanelli
Category:UK champions (snooker)
Category:Welsh snooker players
Category:Welsh sports broadcasters
Category:Winners of the professional snooker world championship