MARK WILDMAN died at the age of 88.
The snooker legend, who was the first player to achieve a televised ‘century break’, died on Monday after a long battle with illness.
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Mark Wildman has died at the age of 88 Credit: Getty
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The sports bat icon was known for both snooker and billiardsCredit: Getty
Wildman had a long career in pool and snooker and later served as president of the WPBSA.
Born in 1936, Wildman was known as a young man for his exceptional billiards skills.
The star won the British U16 billiards championship in 1951, and the British U19 title in 1952 and 1953.
While at senior level, he was crowned English Amateur Billiards Champion in 1968, defeating iconic snooker commentator Clive Everton in the final.
But his victory in the 1984 World Pool Championship will be remembered as his greatest moment in the sport.
Wildman has been equally impressive in snooker since his youth and throughout his adult life.
He won a number of junior championships as a kid before turning pro in 1979.
Impressively, some 19 years before turning pro, Wildman became the first player to ever make a televised century.
As a professional, Wildman reached the last 16 of the UK Championship and also managed to play in the Crucible.
Wildman retired from the game in 1991, but did not leave the sport entirely.
He became a well-known snooker commentator during the 80s and 90s, acting as the voice of the sport for broadcasters such as ITV, Sky and Eurosport.
Wildman, who has lived in Spain in recent years, was described as an “outstanding snooker and pool player” in a statement confirming his passage past the WST and WPSBA.
While former world champion Ken Doherty paid tribute to the legend in the same statement from the governing bodies.
He 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 loved snooker and pool and knew the games inside out. He was involved in every part of the sport including coaching. He will be sadly missed.”
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