Willie Thorne

[Cloverjo]

https://news.sky.com/story/willie-thorne-snooker-star-dies-after-being-placed-in-induced-coma-in-spain-12008484

Just read that he has died. Only 66. He seemed such a lovely man.

[cashier]

How sad. Yes, he did seem like a nice person.

[bhg481]

You have to admire those old snooker players. They were able to play when all the balls were just different shades of grey, not like the current players who need coloured balls.

[piggynose]

Lol bhg481

[piggynose]

Talking seriously now, in w.thornes day players had nicknames, which made the game more personal.
Who's left? Rocket Ronnie.

[dannyk13]

RIP Willie ' Mr Maximum' Thorne.

[ToraToraTora]

piggy, have you been off world? they have nicknames more than ever, they also have a theme tune for when they enter the arena:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_snooker_player_nicknames

https://sport.bt.com/news/walk-on-music-choices-for-world-snooker-championship-revealed-S11364356629929

[ToraToraTora]

Yep, he was known as Mr Maximum because he was head and shoulders above anyone in practice maximums, only rarely did he do it in matches.

[ichkeria]

Yes, very said. He was a good commentator as well.
As Tora says, they’ve gone nickname crazy these days. I think it’s pretty tedious.
In the good old days you had to earn one :-)

[ichkeria]

Sad not said ...

[bednobs]

my parents used to watch snooker when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s when it was popular. Willie thorne always seemed really old then (to me) so i'm surprised he was only 66

[Ellipsis]

RIP Willie Thorne ... 66 is no age at all.

[ichkeria]

Indeed. 66 leaves more than enough points on the table :-(

[anneasquith]

Why the need for ‘ go fund me ‘ ? Do people not have insurance ?

[Prudie]

Sad news and was also surprised he was only 66. Also sad that a name that famous for most of us over a certain age needed funding to help for his care and then funeral.

[Ken4155]

Saw him a couple of times when he visited my local WMC on his exhibition tours. As Sports Sec, I was the one who arranged for him to attend and, after his first visit, the 'lads' were unanimous in their wish to have him back. Quite a genial man and, at times, unassuming. Of course we talked about gambling - he was a bit of an addict and I've been known to have the odd punt :-). He did say he would have swapped all those maximums for that one blue he missed in the '85 WC final against Steve Davis. RIP Willie Thorne.

[dannyk13]

He looked older because he was the only snooker player on the tournament circuit who was balding.

[ToraToraTora]

this one ken? very famous miss

[ToraToraTora]

...it was in the UK championship

[Ken4155]

Yes TTT, I stand corrected, it was the UK Final. He only managed the quarter final (twice) in the WC. Had he potted that blue, he would more than likely have won the match and the title. As it was, he went to pieces after and won just one of the last 8 frames.

[Gromit]

He was diagnosed with leukaemia in March.