SNOOKER LEGEND JOHN VIRGO'S HEARTBROKEN WIDOW SAYS SHE 'CAN'T IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT HIM'

John Virgo's widow has praised the snooker great as the 'love of my life and my best friend' after he died aged 79 just days before their 16th wedding anniversary.

Virgo, who won the UK Championship in 1979, enjoyed a long and storied career but was perhaps best known for his work as a broadcaster dubbed the 'voice of snooker'.

The Salford-born star married his third wife Rosie Ries in 2009 and the couple had been living in Mijas Costa in Malaga after moving from Surrey to Spain in 2020.

She told the Daily Mirror: 'We were just days shy of our 16-year wedding anniversary. I can't imagine life without John, he was the love of my life and my best friend.'

Virgo, who died yesterday, was an established part of the BBC's snooker coverage as a commentator, famous for his catchphrase of 'Where's the cue ball going?'.

He was also well known for his role on the 1990s snooker television game show Big Break and was a regular on the exhibition circuit with his vast array of trick shots.

Virgo's best friend James Malyon, who was with Ms Ries yesterday, confirmed the cause of death to the Mirror as 'a ruptured aorta - completely out of the blue'.

Several celebrations of Virgo's life are planned, with a funeral expected to take place in Spain at the end of next week and another memorial in the UK at a later date.

Mr Malyon said: 'I'm at his wife's house now, she's a little bit in shock, but she's okay. She has a lot of support. It's nice to see how much he meant to so many people.'

Virgo, who had children Gary and Brook-Leah with previous wives Susan and Avril respectively, found happiness with Ms Reis after decades of personal turmoil.

He rebuilt his life with her after a £200,000 gambling addiction had cost him two marriages, his three-bedroom Surrey family home and left him facing bankruptcy.

Virgo previously told the Mirror in 2017: 'A mate tried to set us up years ago but then his girlfriend said she wouldn't be interested in me. I was so frightened of a knock-back, I didn't ask her for out for 22 years.

'By then I'd lived on my own for five years and I needed that time to re-centre myself. But eventually we went on a date. I used my wit, charm and repartee on her and, blow me down, two months later we got engaged.'

He described his wedding to Ms Reis as 'the best day of my life' before adding that their marriage had been 'absolutely wonderful'.

Virgo spent 18 years as a professional and reached the World Championship semi-finals in 1979, when he also won the UK Championship.

He retired in 1994 and was later inducted into the World Snooker Tour hall of fame for his success on the baize and his work as a broadcaster.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, who is playing in the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, found out the news after his win over Joe O'Connor and said on X: 'Finished my match to get the news that JV has passed away.

'Love to Rosie, Brooke and Gary. Such a great mate who I loved spending time with, absolutely gutted.'

Former world champion John Parrott worked alongside Virgo in the BBC commentary box and said he 'transcended the sport' and 'loved a joke'.

He told BBC Sport: 'John was a tremendous competitor and a very good break-builder, brilliant among the pink and black. He knew the game inside and out and backwards.

'Then he transcended the sport and went into the commentary box. He did "Big Break" with Jim Davidson, so he became a household name to everybody.

'It was that voice which was very different to everyone else and made him stand out. You could have a right laugh with him - he loved a joke. He was a brilliant character.'

Sir Stephen Fry, who became a friend to Virgo, said he will 'leave such a gap in the world'.

'Like all great masters of the art of commentary, JV seemed to do nothing more than talk naturally and authoritatively,' Fry said. 'But actually his skill was phenomenal.

'He had the gift of knowing exactly when to be light of touch and when to ramp up the drama and excitement; when to speak, when to hold back from speech.

'I regularly met him at the BBC's Light Entertainment Christmas Party and was instantly struck by his warmth, charm and intelligence.

'He was kind enough to invite me to some of the great snooker events, the Masters at Wembley, and the World Championships in Sheffield where I could watch him at work. He will leave such a gap in the world.

'After all, as he famously liked to remind us, 'there's always a gap'.'

Jim Davidson co-hosted the BBC's snooker programme 'Big Break' between 1991 and 2002 alongside Virgo for over 200 episodes and said he brought 'so much joy' to the people who were around him.

Davidson posted on Instagram: 'Heartbroken to hear that my great mate John Virgo has passed away at 79. What a character, what a talent.

'From our time together on Big Break, to the snooker commentary chair, you brought so much joy to so many. Rest easy, John. You will be missed.'

Former world champion Shaun Murphy, who has also featured as a BBC commentator, wrote on Instagram: 'I first met John in 1994, filming Junior Big Break. He then went on to become a friend and colleague.

'I learned so much from him whilst sharing a commentary box. The voice of snooker will be sadly missed. Rest In Peace John Virgo.'

Reanne Evans, 12-time women's world champion, said on X: 'Oh JV. You will be missed. Thinking of Rosie and your family at this sad time. This is a tough one to take. You will always be the best ever to me. God bless you. What a guy.'

Former heavyweight world champion boxer Frank Bruno tweeted: 'RIP John Virgo we met loads of times great sense of humour he tried teaching me some trick shots and really was laughing when the balls kept leaving the table. One thing about him everyone said he was a really nice man sad loss.'

And world number nine Mark Allen posted on X: 'Truly awful news. Thoughts with all Johns family and friends. One of the nicest men you could ever wish to meet.'

Jimmy White played Virgo 11 times during their professional careers, including in the 1989 World Championship when White edged it 13-12. 

He wrote a simple message on Instagram accompanied with a picture of the two which said: 'Goodnight JV'.

Former world number three Neal Foulds posted on X: 'Terribly sad news that we have lost one of the greats of snooker in John Virgo.

'JV was incredibly generous, kind and funny. He was also a wonderful player and commentator. Thoughts with Rosie and all of his family. Thanks for all the great memories JV.'

Four-time world champion Mark Selby tweeted: 'So so sad to hear the news of the passing of John Virgo!!! Such a great guy and a huge character!! He Will be greatly missed! RIP JV'

Neil Robertson, who won the 2010 World Championship, said: 'So sad to hear about the news of John Virgo's passing. He was a great character and an amazing pundit/commentator.

'I had the pleasure of sharing the booth with him during the world championships a couple of years ago in which I got a huge appreciation for how good he was.'

And two-time World Championship finalist Ali Carter told World Snooker: 'It's shook me to the core. I've got great memories of John. His knowledge was second to none.

'I've been guilty of getting frustrated and he'd always come and talk to me in intervals and give me some words of advice. He knew the game inside out. it's a very sad day for snooker.'

Jason Francis, chairman of World Seniors Snooker, announced the 'heart-breaking' news of Virgo's death in a post on the Snooker Legends account on X yesterday.

'JV was doing what he loved to do right up until the end, entertaining everyone,' he said. 'Such an important person in my life but in our sport in general.

'An amazingly loyal friend to me, and someone you felt was sat with you at the match when he was commentating on TV.

'Hard to take this one...one great person who touched so many lives and loved the game. We will never forget you bud. RIP JV.'

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2026-02-05T10:21:45Z