Snooker legend and BBC commentator John Virgo has died, aged 79.

Virgo enjoyed an 18-year professional career, winning the UK Championship and reaching the semi-finals of the World Championship in 1979.

He is perhaps best known for his post-playing career, presenting popular snooker TV show Big Break alongside comedian Jim Davidson from 1991 to 2002.

Following his retirement from playing in 1994, Virgo became a BBC commentator.

His last commentary for the BBC came 17 days ago when Kyren Wilson beat John Higgins in the Masters final.

Virgo was a popular commentator, with his famous “where’s the cue ball going?” catchphrase when a player was close to committing a foul.

Players and officials held a minute’s silence at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan said: “Finished my match to get the news that JV has passed away.

“Such a great mate who I loved spending time with. Absolutely gutted.”

Four-time world champion Mark Selby said: “So sad to hear the news of the passing of John Virgo! Such a great guy and a huge character! He will be greatly missed! RIP JV.”

Former world champion Shaun Murphy, who worked alongside Virgo for the BBC, said: “I first met John in 1994, filming Junior Big Break. He then went on to become a friend and colleague.

“I learned so much from him whilst sharing a commentary box. The voice of snooker will be sadly missed.”

Virgo regularly took part in exhibition matches, playing trick shots and performing impressions of other players.

Former world champion Neil Robertson said: “He was a great character and an amazing pundit and commentator.

“I had the pleasure of sharing the booth with him during the World Championship a couple of years ago in which I got a huge appreciation for how good he was.”

A World Snooker statement read: “Everyone at the World Snooker Tour is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of legendary snooker player and broadcaster John Virgo.”

Former world number three Neal Foulds said: “Terribly sad news that we have lost one of the greats of snooker in John Virgo.

“JV was incredibly generous, kind and funny. He was also a wonderful player and commentator. Thanks for all the great memories JV.”

Virgo, who was born in Salford in 1946, is survived by wife Rosie and children Gary and Brooke-Leah.

John was a tremendous competitor and a very good break-builder – brilliant among the pink and black. He knew the game inside and out and backwards.

Then he transcended the sport and went into the commentary box. He did Big Break with Jim Davidson, so he became a household name to everybody.

It was that voice which was very different to everyone else and made him stand out.

You could have a right laugh with him – he loved a joke.

He had a really good act and he did impersonations of Alex Higgins, Terry Griffiths, Cliff Thorburn – and they all loved it.

It was unusual for someone to do that at the end of an exhibition, but he was absolutely brilliant at it.

I’m sure when we give him a tribute at the Crucible [for the World Championship in April] they will show his impressive routine, which is just hilarious.

He was a brilliant character.

Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has opened up on how his transfer to Manchester United failed to materialize.

Recall that the former midfielder had agreed to a pre-contract deal with the Red Devils, which would have seen him sign for the club after turning 18.

However, Mikel, in a chat, stated that a Premier League rule that states that a player must have played 75% for his country’s senior national team prevented the Red Devils from signing him.

“Fergie loved me. He would always pair me with Roy Keane because he thought Keane would protect me from the likes of Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, who were always tackling people in training.

“At the time, the rule required players to have represented their national team in at least 75% of matches before being eligible to sign.

“The strategy was to get me in and out before I turned 18,” Mikel explained, referring to the club’s approach to signing young talents, “but that wasn’t possible in my case.”

Mikel would finally join the Blues aged 19 in 2006, going on to spend almost 11 years with the club.

During that time, he made 372 appearances and scored six goals from midfield.

Athletes who represented Lagos State at the 22nd National Sports Festival Gateway Games held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in May 2025, have begun receiving their cash rewards.

This followed the release of N36.3 million approved by the Lagos State Government for medal winners at the event.

Several athletes confirmed that payments had started hitting their accounts days after the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC) announced that the rewards had been cleared by the government.

It was reported that team Lagos finished sixth overall at the Gateway Games, winning a total of 169 medals 38 gold, 43 silver and 88 bronze.

The incentive breakdown revealed 32 individual gold medal winners received N300, 000 each; five gold doubles winners also earned N300, 000 apiece and N700, 000 team prize shared among team members.

For silver medals, individual and doubles winners received N200, 000 each, while silver-winning teams shared N500, 000.

Bronze medals individual and doubles winners earned N150, 000 each, while bronze-winning teams shared N350, 000.

“We started receiving the payments last Friday after we were informed that the funds had been approved,” an athlete confirmed.

The development comes weeks after Lagos junior athletes recorded a historic outing at the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba, where they dethroned hosts Delta State for the first time in the competition’s history.

Team Lagos topped the medals table with 110 medals 52 gold, 32 silver and 26 bronze.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo‑Olu promptly rewarded the junior athletes for their feat, before extending the same gesture to the senior athletes who competed at the National Sports Festival.

Reacting to the payments, Lekan Fatodu, Director-General of LSSC, reaffirmed that athletes’ welfare is a cornerstone of the state’s sports policy.

He added that a streamlined payment system now guarantees allowances are paid directly to athletes, while the appointment of an Athletes’ Liaison Officer, a former competitor, ensures concerns are heard and addressed at the highest levels.

Looking ahead to the 2026 National Sports Festival in Enugu, Fatodu said Lagos is determined to build on recent achievements.

Athletes themselves expressed confidence in surpassing past performances, noting that standards have been raised across the board.

“From qualification to the games proper, you have to earn your place. There will be no more jamborees, especially in team sports. We’ve all been working hard,” said Abass Khalid, who represented Lagos at the last festival.