Mark Wildman Passes Away Age 88
WST and WPBSA are sorry to announce that Mark Wildman, an outstanding snooker and billiards player and former Chairman of the global governing body, has died at the age of 88.
Wildman had been living in Spain in recent years and, after a long battle with illness, passed away on Monday.
Born in 1936, Wildman was an exceptional junior billiards player. He won the British under-16 billiards championship in 1951, and the British under-19 title in 1952 and 1953. In 1968, he won the English Amateur Billiards Championship, beating Clive Everton in the final.
Wildman’s crowning glory as a billiards player came in 1984 when he won the World Championship, beating Eddie Charlton 1,045–1,012 in the final. He was also runner-up in 1980 and 1982.
In snooker, he was just as talented. He was 1952 British Boys Champion and 1954 British Junior Champion. Perhaps his most significant moment in terms of snooker history came in 1960 when he became the first player to make a televised century break.
Turning professional in 1979, he reached the last 16 of the UK Championship the following year. In 1983 he made it to the Crucible, and led Terry Griffiths 8-7 in the first round but lost 10-8. A year later, Wildman knocked out John Virgo, Silvino Francisco, and Charlton to reach the semi-finals of the Lada Classic, before his run was ended by Tony Meo. He climbed as high as 21st in the world, and eventually retired from the pro game in 1991.
During the snooker boom of the 1980s and 90s, Wildman was a renowned commentator for ITV, Eurosport and Sky.
In 1984 he became a director of WPBSA, and had several spells on the board over the next 18 years. Wildman served as Chairman of WPBSA from 1999 to 2001 and was widely respected throughout the sport.
He owned a club called Raunds Cuesports in Wellingborough, where a young Shaun Murphy developed his skills.
Murphy, WPBSA Players Chairman said: “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.
“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. He was a well-respected commentator for ITV and snooker’s early days on Sky Sports.
“I have been in fairly close contact with Mark’s daughter Helen for many years since the families move to Spain where I think in true Mark style he dominated the local carom scene in recent times.
“My thoughts are with Helen and the rest of his family at this time and I would like to thank Mark for his help and support down the years.”
Former World Champion Ken Doherty said: “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. 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.”
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “I am deeply saddened by the news today that my great friend Mark Wildman has passed away. It was a privilege for me to serve under him as Vice Chairman of the WPBSA early in my administrative career.
“He had a great vision for the global development of our sport and was an inspiration to me for many years. I have many fond memories of my time with him and was honoured to be able to able to reinstate his honorary membership of the WPBSA when I returned to the sport as Chairman in 2010. He will be sorely missed by us all.”
