Hazel Irvine bids farewell to John Virgo as BBC concludes World Snooker Championship
Hazel Irvine delivered a heartfelt farewell as the BBC wrapped up its World Snooker Championship coverage, paying tribute to the beloved John Virgo, reports BritPanorama.
The legendary commentator passed away in February at 79 after suffering a ruptured aorta at a Costa del Sol hospital, marking the first Crucible tournament without his iconic voice since he joined the BBC microphone in 1994.
As Irvine closed out the broadcast, she expressed her gratitude, stating: “Absolutely amazing and I really hope you have enjoyed the last 17 days with us. What are we all going to do tomorrow morning? I don’t know.” She finished with a touching sign-off: “From all of us it’s goodbye and it’s also good night JV.”
John Virgo’s daughter, Brook-Leah, appeared during the broadcast for an emotional interview, sharing what her father meant to their family: “I am so proud. It’s amazing, this is our snooker family, what an honour to be here and we have been looked after like royalty.”
She noted the difficulty of watching the tournament without her father’s commentary. “Obviously listening to the snooker, he’s missing, and it’s hard for us,” she explained. “I have been saying it all day, every day, ‘how lucky are we to have this guy as our dad?’ What a legend, the voice, keep him alive. It means everything to me and my family, everything.”
In an exciting conclusion to the tournament, Wu Yize claimed the World Snooker Championship title, edging past Shaun Murphy 18-17 in a nail-biting decider at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. His victory makes him the second Chinese player in succession to lift snooker’s biggest prize, earning £500,000 and propelling him to fourth in the world rankings.
After embracing Murphy following his match-winning break, Wu gave an emotional tribute to his parents during his acceptance speech. “My parents are the true champions,” he said. “Since I made the decision to drop out of school, my dad has been by my side. My mum has also been going through a lot over the years. They are the source of my strength, I love them so much.”
BBC pundits Steve Davis and John Parrott praised Wu’s remarkable journey. Parrott highlighted the sacrifices made by Wu’s family: “Came over and were living in a one-bedroom flat, him and his father were sleeping in the same bed. [They had] Absolutely nothing.”
Davis commended Wu’s performance, stating, “He’s shown bottle, he’s shown class, he’s shown control around the table on the positional shots. In the end he showed great character.” He added that Chinese players are now “setting the benchmark” for European and British competitors, requiring others to adapt to their evolving style of play.
This year’s tournament not only celebrated the thrilling skill of snooker but also served as a poignant reminder of the personal connections that enrich the sport, reflecting how legacy, family, and competitive spirit intertwine within the crucible of talent.
