Sporting world mourns death of snooker cult hero, 66
Members of the snooker world and beyond have been paying their tributes to former player Willie Thorne, who died on Wednesday morning.
The 66-year-old was placed in a coma after a short illness with leukaemia.
A message on Thorne’s GoFundMe page read: “It is with a very heavy and broken heart that I have to officially announce that at 1.55am this morning Willie Thorne lost his battle and passed away.”
Written by Thorne’s carer Julie O’Neill, it continued: “Willie went into septic shock and was not responding to any treatment so the decision was made by the hospital to turn off the machines. I was with him all the way to his end and reading out messages to him from people. He passed away very peacefully and without pain listening to his children saying they love him – that gives me some comfort in this difficult time.”
Sporting colleagues pay tribute to Willie Thorne
Match of the Day presenter and friend Gary Lineker was one of the first to pay tribute, calling Thorne “One of life’s great characters. A marvellous snooker player and a lovely man.”
World Snooker added: “We are deeply saddened to hear that the Great WT himself, Willie Thorne, has passed away at the age of 66. It’s a great loss to our sport. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time. RIP Willie.”
Deeply, deeply saddened to hear that my friend Willie Thorne has passed away. One of life’s great characters. A marvellous snooker player and a lovely man, who’s potted his final black much too soon. RIP Willie.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 17, 2020
Thorne, who went by the nickname “Mr Maximum”, due to the number of times he recorded 147 breaks (snooker’s maximum possible score in a frame), went on to be a successful commentator after he stopped playing.
We are deeply saddened to hear that snooker legend and Foxes supporter Willie Thorne has passed away at the age of 66.
The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Willie’s loved ones at this sad time.
Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/nnNeuoUqpy— Leicester City (@LCFC) June 17, 2020
So sad to hear about the passing of Willie Thorne last night. One of the games great characters and will be missed greatly😢 RIP
— Neil Robertson🌱 (@nr147) June 17, 2020
Prior to his retirement he spent spent 20 years as one of the top 32 players in the world.
Former world champions Stephen Hendry, Neil Robertson and Dennis Taylor spoke shared their tributes, as did Leicester City, Thorne’s hometown team.
WIth Yahoo News UK
