Reardon was a dominant force in the sport throughout the 1970s, securing the World Snooker Championship titles in 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1978. He holds the distinction of being the first player to be ranked world No.1. Known as ‘Dracula’ for his unique hairstyle, he was one of the sport’s most beloved and charismatic figures.
The Welshman continued to play snooker in recent times and made headlines last December for being one of the oldest players to achieve a century break. He was honoured with an MBE in 1985, inducted into the Snooker Hall of Fame in 2011, and his legacy endures as the Welsh Open victor receives the Ray Reardon Trophy.
Former player and BBC commentator John Virgo tweeted: “Sad news. Ray Reardon passed away last night, it was a honour to have known him, a true great of our game RIP.”
Renowned player Jimmy White shared on Twitter: “Gutted to hear my very good friend Ray Reardon has passed away. A total class act and very kind to me when I was making my way in the game. A giant of the game. Rest in Peace mate.”
Snooker champion Mark Williams commented: “Ray is one of the finest sportspeople ever from Wales and the greatest snooker player. He’s one of the main reasons many of us began playing. He put snooker on the map, along with Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, and Steve Davis. Anyone playing now owes them a lot because they brought popularity to the game. He is truly an inspiration.”
At the start of 2023, before the Masters Snooker event, Ronnie O’Sullivan discussed Reardon’s lasting influence. “Ray Reardon introduced an aspect to the game I never knew existed,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport. “I learnt it, now I value it, and use it frequently when necessary.”
Reardon’s triumph over Perrie Mans in the 1978 World Championship final made him the oldest champion at 45. This record remained until O’Sullivan, aged 46, secured his seventh title in 2022.
After securing six titles, the Welshman reached another Crucible final in 1982 at 49 but was defeated by Alex Higgins. In the modern era, only O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry, both with seven titles, have surpassed Reardon’s tally, which he shares with Steve Davis, who also has six.
Born in Tredegar in 1932, Reardon started playing snooker young while working in the mines. Upon relocating to Stoke-on-Trent, he joined the police force and continued to build his reputation as a leading amateur player in Britain.
In 1967, at age 35, Reardon left the police to pursue a professional snooker career. This move quickly paid off as he came to dominate the scene throughout the 1970s.
