World Snooker Championship icon releases moving John Virgo statement | Other | Sport
Reanne Evans has paid an emotional tribute to John Virgo after acknowledging the player-turned-broadcaster’s absence at this year’s World Snooker Championship. The annual tournament at the Crucible in Sheffield takes place less than three months after BBC legend Virgo died aged 79 of a ruptured aorta while at his family home in Spain.
He played at snooker’s most prestigious event 15 times during his career, reaching the semi-finals in 1979, where he lost to eventual runner-up Dennis Taylor. Virgo also commentated on the BBC‘s coverage during his career and continued to do so after retiring from playing up until 17 days before his death.
Evans, 40, is at the Crucible and spoke about how different the experience is without the much-loved commentator. On the morning of this year’s final between Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize, she posted: “I have to say I have missed JV a lot at this event. Turning on the TV and just expecting to hear him. Also in and around the hotel and Crucible, bumping into him and Rosie having chats and laughing. Miss you, JV.”
A user on X replied to Evans’ post, saying: “As great as the event has been, there’s definitely been a feeling of a JV sized piece missing.” She responded with a red heart emoji, which also punctuates the original post.
Snooker announcer Phil Seymour agreed, saying: “I think Reanne Evans is spot on here. I was asked about JV when I was at Goffs a few weeks ago, and I said I think it’ll hit everyone during the Worlds, and I was right. Really missed his voice the last couple of weeks, as I’m sure millions of people have.”
Some snooker fans wore t-shirts with Virgo’s catchphrases on them to the Crucible for Sunday’s sessions of the final. The black tops had on them in capitalised white lettering “IS THERE A GAP” and “THERE’S ALWAYS A GAP”.
John Parrott acknowledged the tribute on commentary, saying: “There’s a lovely touch from fans coming today. Of course, we lost our good friend John Virgo, well done fellas, nice touch, one of John’s favourite sayings.”
That was just one of multiple tributes to Virgo during this year’s tournament. Before it began, a minute’s applause took place at the Crucible, with Ken Doherty, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and Taylor joining the crowd in paying tribute.
One of this year’s finalists, Murphy, has also spoken about a potential reboot of Big Break, the snooker-themed game show Virgo hosted. He told Sporting Life: “It would be up there in the top two or three possible tributes to JV, wouldn’t it? Big Break was just part of our childhoods; it was certainly part of my childhood.”
