John Virgo: Snooker great dies at age of 79, World Snooker announce as players pay tributes to 'great character'
Former player and broadcaster John Virgo has died at the age of 79, World Snooker has announced.
www.skysports.comDirect answer: John Virgo died in February 2026 at the age of 79, with multiple outlets reporting his passing and tributes from the snooker community. He was a former UK Championship winner and a long-time BBC snooker commentator.
Details and quick context:
- Confirmation of death: Several reputable outlets reported Virgo’s death in early February 2026 and noted the announcement came from World Snooker/WORLD SENIORS Snooker circles . These reports identified his age as 79 and placed his passing in Spain, where he had been living, with tributes from peers and organizations in the snooker world .
- Career highlights: Virgo won the 1979 UK Championship and the 1980 Bombay International, among other titles, and became a well-known broadcaster and entertaining pundit on BBC snooker coverage, later famed for his quips and personality .
- Public reaction: Tributes described him as a “great character” and a loyal friend to colleagues, emphasizing his impact on the sport both as a player and as a broadcaster .
If you’d like, I can pull a concise timeline of Virgo’s career milestones and a handful of notable tributes from the coverage, or summarize the public and industry reactions in a brief bullet list.