 Griffiths took the title on his first attempt |
In winning the world title at his first attempt, Terry Griffiths ushered in a new era for snooker, an era in which the standards would reach levels never before seen. Griffiths, a former bus conductor and postman from Llanelli, had entered the championship with the modest goal of qualifying for the Crucible.
But in the final stages beat Perrie Mans, runner-up the previous year, 13-8 and made a break of 107 in the deciding frame of his thrilling 13-12 victory over Alex Higgins in the quarter-finals.
He had to rely on tactical nous and great patience to scrape past durable Australian Eddie Charlton in the semi-finals, eventually achieving a 19-17 victory at 0140 following a five hours, 25 minutes final session.
Dennis Taylor came through the other half of the draw to reach the final for the first time.
He led 14-12, but Griffiths, defying tiredness after his semi-final exertions and the pressure of his first major final, won 12 of the next 14 frames to complete his remarkable 24-16 victory.
MMIX
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