Hazel Irvine pays emotional two-word tribute to John Virgo at end of World Snooker Championship broadcast

Hazel Irvine made sure John Virgo was not forgotten in the final moments of the World Snooker Championship broadcast.

The 2026 tournament was the first without iconic BBC commentator Virgo, who sadly died in February at the age of 79.

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He was a beloved figure in snooker as a professional for 18 years, reaching the World Snooker Championship semi–finals in 1979, before going on to broadcasting in 1994.

There were tributes paid to Virgo throughout the weeks at the Crucible, with Wu Yize going on to lift the title.

The Chinese player won a deciding frame to clinch an 18-17 victory over former world champion Shaun Murphy.

Irvine signed off from the BBC’s World Snooker Championship with a poignant message.

She said:  “Absolutely amazing and I really hope you have enjoyed the last 17 days with us. What are we all going to do tomorrow morning? I don’t know. But all I can do is thank you for your incredible company and sharing in all of the drama. 

“The missed blacks, the longest frame in Crucible history and the crowning of a brand new champion. Wonderful, wonderful Wu Yize. He has got the wow factor. From all of us it’s goodbye and it’s also good night JV.” 

Wu wins title

The 22-year-old became the second Chinese player to win the title, after Zhao Xintong in 2025.

Speaking to the BBC, Wu Yize said: “I think it was the belief. I have been trying to go for this for ages. For the past few months, I have been living the same life. I am so happy that I could play well today.

“My parents are the true champions. Since I made the decision to drop out of school, my dad has been by my side.

“My mum has also been going through a lot over the years, they are the source of my strength, I love them so much.” 

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When asked how he was going to celebrate, he added: “I just want to have a good sleep. I have been feeling nerves all the time since before the match, so now I just want to go to bed.” 

Murphy’s reaction

Murphy missed out on claiming a second title after his first in 2005. The Magician has now lost his last four World Snooker Championship finals.

Murphy told the BBC: “Very proud. It’s been an excellent couple of weeks for me and my team. I have had a wonderful time in Sheffield, an amazing time. We have had some laughs, and gee, did we come close. We were very, very close.” 

On Wu Yize, he added: “I’d like to be the first to congratulate Wu Yize and his family, and everyone around him for being a wonderful world champion.

“I hate being right, I said sometime earlier in the season, we had a great game out in China somewhere, and I managed to win that one.

“I came out afterwards and said that he would be world champion one day, it’s just a real shame that it was today, but I couldn’t have given it anymore, I couldn’t have tried harder.

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“I played the best shots I could have played and I didn’t get my chance. I couldn’t do any more than that.”