Ken Doherty pays tribute to Mark Wildman after death of billiards and snooker champion – 'So eloquent'
Published 21/11/2024 at 08:22 GMT
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Former world billiards champion Mark Wildman has died at the age of 88. Wildman was celebrated for his work as a TV commentator in the sport's boom period during the 1980s after becoming the first man to make a televised century break in the 1960s. Former world snooker champions Ken Doherty and Shaun Murphy have paid tribute to Wildman's influence on the sport.
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Ken Doherty has paid tribute to English snooker and billiards great Mark Wildman after his death was announced at the age of 88.
Wildman was the first player to produce a televised century break in 1960, and won the World Billiards Championship by defeating Australia's Eddie Charlton in a five-hour final in 1984.
He reached the semi-finals of the Lada Classic ranking event in the same year after defeating Silvino Francisco, John Virgo and Charlton before losing to Tony Meo.
Wildman was later chairman of the governing body World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) between 1999 and 2001 after earning plaudits as a TV commentator in the 1980s and 1990s, which included work for Eurosport.
"I remember listening to Mark commentate when I was a kid, he had a beautiful voice, he was so eloquent and his delivery was always perfect," said 1997 world champion Ken Doherty on WST.
"He had a great love of snooker and billiards and he knew the games inside out. He engaged in every part of the sport, including coaching. He will be sadly missed."
Wildman, who had been living in Spain, also owned a snooker club in Wellingborough which helped the development of 2005 Crucible winner Shaun Murphy.
"It is with great sadness that I have learned of the passing of Mark Wildman, who was a great personal friend of mine and former WPBSA chairman," said Murphy.
"I met Mark in the early 1990s when he bought Raunds Cuesports, the snooker club that I grew up playing in.
"As a former World Billiards champion, the knowledge he gave me was second to none, and he played a vital role in my early life as a snooker player."
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