That was the largest title of his profession, although Virgo was seen by some to have squandered a giant likelihood on the Crucible in 1982.
Because it occurred, his hopes of successful huge in Sheffield have been considerably dashed by some luck elsewhere.
An enormous gambler on the time, Virgo reckoned he received extra with a hefty punt on Daybreak Johnny and Walter Swinburn successful the Chester Cup than he would have for lifting the World Championship trophy. Contemplating the Crucible prime prize was £25,000, that was some declare.
His thoughts was abuzz after his pocket-lining journey to the races, and his snooker suffered, with Virgo later suggesting he had bungled a wonderful alternative as he misplaced 13-8 to Ray Reardon within the second spherical.
David Taylor, who reached the Crucible semi-finals in 1980, stated some years in the past: “Virgo is one other who might have been a world champion.
“I keep in mind John going to India. He’d received the UK Championship and went on the market, and he stated to me that he was practising on the market and Steve Davis got here alongside and stated, ‘I am taking part in right now, can I’ve a number of hours with you,’ and after two hours Davis stated, ‘John, I will practise on my own, I’ve not had a shot but.’
“John Virgo was that good. He actually was particular, and folks are inclined to neglect it.”
They neglect it due to what adopted.
Firstly, there was Large Break – the BBC One primetime snooker-themed quiz present that Virgo co-presented with Jim Davidson from 1991 to 2002.
It was a gig that dug Virgo out of a monetary mess brought on by playing excesses, at a time when his taking part in profession had petered out, and it made him a star to a fair wider viewers – his dry wit and mastery of trick pictures making him an ideal foil to the favored Davidson.
They have been collectively for greater than 200 episodes of what grew to become a Saturday night light-entertainment staple. It made Virgo a star, and whereas his face was not often seen on display screen within the many years that adopted the top of that present, his voice remained an integral a part of the BBC’s protection of snooker.
He introduced old-school allure, experience and worldliness to the commentary field.
Barely two weeks in the past, he was on nice kind on the Masters. Virgo’s voice got here with a sing-song tempo, rising and falling in that acquainted brogue. He had the expertise of being the person on the desk, of realizing what the adrenaline was like when matches have been on edge, or when victory was coming into sight. No one conveyed that fairly as naturally as Virgo.
He was not one for dwelling on statistics, telling the BBC’s Framed podcast in 2024: “I watch loads of sport and I do know all people needs to know the stats… [but] I really feel my job as a commentator is simply to inform folks what’s taking place on the desk and attempt to get into the thoughts of the participant.”
In September 2021, Virgo precipitated a stir when he informed the Speaking Snooker podcast he believed he was being pushed into retirement.
Because it turned out, he remained a presence within the commentary field till his remaining weeks.
That would have modified nearly a decade in the past, when he was famously heard swearing on mid-afternoon BBC protection on the 2016 World Championship, whereas a tenacious however pedestrian semi-final between Mark Selby and Marco Fu performed out.
Believing he was off microphone, Virgo remarked: “I wished to observe a little bit of racing this afternoon. I will be fortunate to observe some [expletive] Match of the Day.”
Because it occurred, the quip was rapidly laughed off and forgiven.
That second captured the essence of the person. He discovered humour the place others may need been tearing out their hair. It was relatable content material.
Virgo did pantomime in his time, befriended his hero George Finest, and was even the primary man to aim to consolation Steve Davis moments after his well-known black-ball remaining defeat by Dennis Taylor in 1985, poking his nostril into the deposed champion’s dressing room to seek out him in a flood of tears, inconsolable.
So that is the top of the Virgo story – one other of the well-known names of snooker’s late twentieth Century growth years gone.
He’s survived by spouse Rosie and kids Gary and Brook Leah.
Tributes got here from far and broad, from snooker circles and the likes of former boxing champion Frank Bruno and musician Rick Wakeman – associates from the superstar circuit.
They are going to pour in for days and weeks to come back.
For a lot of, the World Championship in April will not be the identical with out him.
The Salford sage has left his stage.
Goodnight, JV.
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