John Virgo, a snooker player who rose to prominence during the sport’s 1980s boom and later became a familiar face as a commentator, died last week in Spain, according to reports. He was 71.
Virgo’s passing, whereas acknowledged in some circles, has largely gone unnoticed by younger generations, a reflection of snooker’s diminished presence in the mainstream sporting landscape. The game, once a television staple, now largely relies on nostalgia and the exhibition circuit to maintain its profile.
Snooker’s ascent in the latter half of the 20th century was inextricably linked to the advent of colour television. Before that, billiards, a related cue sport, held sway. But the vibrant colours of the snooker table, combined with the strategic gameplay, proved a compelling draw for viewers. Clubs proliferated, transforming the game from an upper-class pursuit to one embraced by a wider audience.
Newspaper archives from Cavan and Monaghan illustrate this trajectory. Mentions of snooker were sparse in the first half of the 20th century, increasing to 43 in 1966, before dipping again to just nine in 1971. The peak came in 1985, coinciding with Dennis Taylor’s dramatic World Championship victory – watched by an estimated 18.5 million people – with 98 mentions across the two local newspapers. By last year, that number had fallen to 24.
Much of the current coverage focuses on the past, a testament to the sport’s golden age. Exhibition matches remain popular, offering fans a chance to see former stars in action. A recent event featuring Dennis Taylor and Ken Doherty was held at the Nuremore Hotel, relying on “one-liners and trick shots” to attract audiences.
Despite a dedicated following, particularly at the CYMS club in Cavan Town, snooker is demonstrably in decline. While lucrative for top players, a lack of emerging talent is a concern. Five years ago, Ronnie O’Sullivan, then approaching 50 and still ranked among the world’s best, publicly criticised the standard of younger players, stating they would “do well as half-decent amateurs.”
O’Sullivan, nicknamed ‘The Rocket’, is considered the last crossover star to captivate a broad audience. The absence of compelling personalities is seen as a contributing factor to the sport’s struggles. This contrasts sharply with the era depicted in Gordon Burn’s 1980s book, Pocket Money, which chronicled the lives of players like Taylor, Steve Davis, and Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins.
Higgins, from Belfast, and Taylor, from Dungannon, both found themselves in Blackburn, England, by the early 1970s. Higgins, known for his flamboyant lifestyle, contrasted sharply with the more reserved Taylor. Burn’s book details Higgins’ precarious existence, at one point living in a series of derelict houses.
In its heyday, snooker produced a stream of stars. Now, some observers draw parallels to the decline of other sporting institutions. Virgo himself experienced the frustrations of a changing landscape. His 1979 UK Championship victory was not televised due to a BBC cameramen’s strike.
Beyond his playing career, Virgo battled gambling addiction and experienced personal difficulties. He later found success as a commentator, leveraging his natural wit. His accessibility made him a popular figure on the exhibition circuit. In 1982, he played Taylor in Emyvale Inn for a prize of £1000, just two days after Phil Lynott performed at the same venue. A 1996 exhibition match against Jimmy White at the Hotel Kilmore advertised him as a “Trick shot wizard.”
Snooker has been eclipsed by other sports, most notably darts. Barry Hearn, who played a key role in snooker’s 1980s boom, replicated that success with darts, embracing its pub-game origins and creating a large-scale, boisterous atmosphere. Darts now surpasses snooker in terms of marketing, crowds, participation, and revenue.
Virgo’s question – “Where is the cue ball going?” – now seems to reflect the uncertain trajectory of the sport itself.
