Steve Davis was visibly moved as the Crucible paid tribute to John Virgo at the start of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. The minute’s applause came on Saturday as the tournament opened and the sport remembered Virgo, who died in February aged 79. Presenter Hazel Irvine led the tribute and invited fans and figures from across snooker to join in.
Steve Davis reacts as the applause begins
Steve Davis had to fight back tears as the crowd stood for the moving tribute. The six-time world champion was among those present when the applause honoured Virgo’s life and work at the Crucible, the venue where the championship is being staged.
The tribute was framed as a public farewell to a figure widely remembered for his voice, humour and long service to the sport. Steve Davis was seen taking in the moment as the applause rolled through the arena, underscoring how strongly Virgo’s death has resonated within snooker.
John Virgo remembered for playing and broadcasting
Virgo’s connection to the sport stretched across decades. He won the UK Championship in 1979 and reached the World Championship semi-finals in 1979 during his playing career, before becoming a defining presence in television coverage from 1985 onwards and later with the in 1994.
Hazel Irvine said Virgo was “universally loved by everyone in this sport and well beyond it too” and described him as “the Voice of Snooker. ” She added that he had played in the first-ever Crucible in 1977, that his wit and wisdom shone through in broadcasting, and that he was “irreplaceable. ”
The tribute also highlighted Virgo’s trademark catchphrase, “Where’s the cue ball going?”, which became closely tied to televised snooker. Steve Davis and the wider arena responded to that legacy with a solemn minute’s applause that marked the emotional opening of the championship.
Crucible tribute sets the tone for the championship
The minute’s applause was a key moment at the start of the 17-day tournament in Sheffield. It placed remembrance at the centre of opening day proceedings before the action moved on to the matches on the schedule.
Among the early results, Zhao Xintong began his title defence with a 10-7 win over Liam Highfield after a nervous start, while other players including Mark Williams, Xiao Guodong, Zhou Yuelong and Mark Allen were also in action. The championship is now under way, but the emotional tone set by the tribute remained the dominant early moment.
For Steve Davis, the Crucible tribute was a reminder of how deeply Virgo’s presence was felt in the sport. As the tournament continues, John Virgo’s memory will remain part of the championship’s backdrop, with Steve Davis among those who visibly carried that loss into the arena.
