WD 23F

Alex Higgins in 1999 at his friend Ollie Reeds funeral in County Cork

Alex Higgins pictured at a bar in Belfast where he spoke about his his autobiography Alex Higgins

𝐉𝐎𝐇𝐍 𝐕𝐈𝐑𝐆𝐎 — 𝐒𝐍𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇-𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐁𝐂 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐎𝐑 — 𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃 𝟕𝟗. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐄
📅 Date: February 2026 | United Kingdom | Snooker Mourns a Giant
Before the opening session at the Crucible, players and broadcasters led the audience in a minute's applause to commemorate professional player and commentator John Virgo, who had died in February at age 79.
John Virgo — 1979 UK Champion, beloved BBC trick shot artist, and one of the most recognisable voices and faces in the history of snooker broadcasting — died in February 2026 at the age of 79. For decades, Virgo's trick shot exhibitions had introduced millions of new fans to the sport. His warmth, his humour, and his extraordinary cue ball control made him a figure of genuine affection across the entire snooker world.
The Crucible Theatre — where Virgo had competed as a player and worked as a broadcaster — observed a minute's applause before the opening session of the 2026 Halo World Championship. The entire snooker family, gathered in Sheffield for the sport's greatest event, paused together to remember one of its most beloved figures.