John Virgo died from a ruptured aorta, according to his friend James Malyon. Virgo's wife Rosie Ries called an ambulance around 2:30 am on the day of his death. A doctor stated that the ruptured aorta was not due to underlying health issues or ongoing illness.
Virgo's last commentary appearance was 17 days before his death, at the Masters final where Kyren Wilson defeated John Higgins. A memorial service for John Virgo was held at Sheffield Cathedral. His son Gary delivered a eulogy, and his daughter Brooke-Leah read a poem.
It is absolutely incredible that so many of you have chosen to be with us here in Sheffield. He said Virgo opened up the sport to a whole new appreciative audience. John’s personality and wit lit up the sport we love for more than half a century. This is our final chance to say our goodbyes properly to a man who is gone but not forgotten.
The snooker community was deeply involved in the memorial service. Ken Doherty read the poem 'Death is nothing at all', Dennis Taylor attended, and Rob Walker gave a speech. Ronnie O'Sullivan did not attend the memorial service.
Public aspects of the memorial service included 600 spaces for fans, and a reception was held at Sheffield Town Hall after the service from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Internationally, a minute's silence was observed for John Virgo at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong. The memorial service featured tributes from family members and prominent snooker personalities, reflecting Virgo's impact on the sport.
The public was invited to attend, with significant fan participation, and the event concluded with a formal reception. The international tribute highlighted Virgo's global recognition in the snooker community.