SO TOUGH WITHOUT WILLIE

Leicester’s Selby missing his pal, cheerleader and all-round legend Thorne

WHEN Mark Selby won his first title at the Crucible, Willie Thorne was moved to tears in the arena.

The Betfred World Championship is taking place not only without a crowd this year – but also, sadly, without one of its most loved and larger-than-life characters.

Thorne – like three-time champion Selby, a favourite and proud son of Leicester – lost his battle with leukaemia six weeks ago at his new home in Spain.

One of the main cast from the game’s golden 1980s era, Thorne created memorable moments in the small and iconic theatre.

There was a run to the quarterfinals in 1982, losing 13-10 to the eventual winner Alex Higgins.

And many recall a famous image of him applauding teenage debutant Stephen Hendry out of the arena after edging past the youngster 10-8.

There were the exhibitions with friend Dennis Taylor to entertain a short-changed crowd when a match finished early – and the years in the booth as a respected and popular BBC commentator.

He could also often be found holding court in the tournament’s exclusive Champions Lounge.

As Taylor recalls, “He’d walk in and say, ‘Who was the best player in here until I walked in?’.”

An instantly recognisable and wise-cracking presence featured in the Snooker Loopy song and video, before making an appearance on hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.

But, for all that, 37-year-old Selby’s memories are more personal, poignant and go right back to when he practised for free, aged 11, in the Willie Thorne club on Leicester’s Charles Street.

Ahead of his second-round match against Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham today, the world No.7 said: “Willie was a fun-loving character and lit up a room.

“He was always happy, no matter what was going on in his life. He had a massive influence on my career and his brother Malcolm sponsored me. It is such a sad loss, he was a lovely guy.

“Willie’s own table in his club was the first one you saw and Malcolm let us play on it if we had a big tournament coming up.

“There was a big mirror and you could see if Willie would walk in, we would be very scared about getting told off. You knew he’d be mad – and he’d walk round saying, ‘These kids are always on my table’. But he was always good with me.

“In 2014 when I won the worlds for the first time, he came into my dressing room every time before a session to make sure I was OK.

“He’d just tell me to go out there and enjoy it, saying, ‘Play like you are on the practice table’.”

Six years ago, it was some final as Selby defiantly hit back from trailing 10-7 overnight to beat Ronnie O’sullivan 18-14.

Thorne was there for Selby’s moment of magic – just as he was when his career had started.

He said: “Even when I picked up the trophy, Willie was at the bottom of the table, as he had been commentating. He had tears in his eyes, crying and hugging my wife Vikki. Memories I will always have.

“He was sat in the crowd watching my very first match as a professional against Wayne Brown. It was at Plymouth Pavilions in 1999, I won 5-4 and I think I had a 99 break in the decider.

“He had flaws with his gambling issues, but we all have flaws – and it certainly didn’t make him any worse as a person.

“He is very much missed in snooker.”