An instantly recognisable star of what might be termed the golden age of snooker, Willie Thorne, has died aged 66 after suffering from leukaemia. With his bald head, magnificent moustache and standing 6ft 2in tall, he became popular when television took up the sport in earnest. But for all his natural brilliance as a player, major tournament successes remained largely elusive, and an addiction to gambling accounted for much of his wealth and contributed to a sometimes chaotic personal life.
To watch Thorne in practice back in the 1980s, a period when he was ranked as one of the worlds best, it was difficult to understand how he ever lost a match. His ability to build breaks with almost nonchalant ease was extraordinary. At a time when reg…
Read the full article at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jun/17/willie-thorne-obituary