Six-time world snooker champion Ray Reardon has passed away at the age of 91.
The Welshman, who dominated the sport in the 1970s, died on Friday night, as confirmed by his wife Carol to the World Snooker Tour.
The WST’s official website released a statement saying: “Ray Reardon, widely regarded as one of the greatest snooker players ever and a six-time world champion, has died at the age of 91.”
Jimmy White posted on X: “I’m heartbroken to hear that my dear friend Ray Reardon has passed away. He was a true class act and showed me great kindness when I was starting out. A giant in the sport. Rest in peace, mate.”
Snooker legend Ray Reardon has passed away at 91 after a battle with cancer.
Reardon will be remembered as one of snooker’s greats, having secured six world titles throughout his career.
Reardon is pictured seven years ago by a golf course in a photo taken by Mail Sport’s Kevin Quigley.
Piers Morgan wrote: “Sad news. A brilliant player and a truly classy gentleman. Rest in peace.”
Mark Williams, compatriot and three-time world champion, told the World Snooker Tour’s official website: “Ray was one of the greatest sportspeople from Wales and the finest snooker player. He inspired many of us to start playing.”
“He, along with Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, and Steve Davis, put snooker on the map. Anyone playing today owes a great deal to them for popularizing the game. Ray was a true inspiration.”
Known affectionately as ‘Dracula,’ Reardon became a household name. However, his journey to stardom was almost cut short.
On April 30, 1957, a mining accident nearly took the life of the 24-year-old Reardon, causing his world to collapse. Surviving that ordeal, he went on to win six World Championship titles, with his final victory in 1978 at the age of 45.
Born on October 8, 1932, in Tredegar, Reardon passed away at 91. He left Georgetown Secondary School at 14 and briefly worked as an apprentice motor mechanic before following his father Ben into the mines, first at Ty Trist and later at the Pochin Colliery.
As a teenager, Reardon showed a talent for snooker and was allowed to practice by being spared evening shifts. Despite the lack of financial rewards in the sport at the time, his dedication remained strong. When Welsh mines began to close, the Reardon family moved to North Staffordshire. In 1956, both Ben and Ray found work at the Florence Colliery, but disaster struck the following year.
While working on a pit roadway, a ‘trickle of dirt’ fell on Reardon’s helmet. Sensing imminent danger, he threw himself down just as a 12-foot girder and a cascade of rubble crashed down, trapping him.
From a young age, Reardon showed a natural talent for cue sports and went on to become the best player in the world.
Reardon takes aim with the rest during a tournament in 1982.
Referee Michaela Tabb poses for a photo with Reardon at a Legends Tour match.
Reardon was rescued after three hours, relying on memories of playing marbles with his younger brother Ron—who was 17 years his junior—to keep calm and avoid panicking.
In his 1982 autobiography, Reardon recalled, “My ordeal left me looking and feeling like a dirty dishcloth. When the blood started to circulate in my numb legs, I screamed in pain for a moment, but after a few sips of water, I was soon alright.”
During wartime, his mother Cynthia had given him a 4ft x 2ft billiard table for Christmas, and he quickly displayed a natural talent.
One afternoon, after attending a headmaster’s funeral, Reardon sneaked out of a school line and into the Tredegar Workmen’s Institute Society, where he won a frame against the venue manager, Tommy Biggs, who had a wooden leg. Reardon was soon caught by his maths teacher.
From an early age, Reardon played cue sports for money, which initially displeased his father until he discovered that his son was winning.
By the age of 13, Reardon was representing the Institute’s men’s team in the Sirhowy Valley Billiards and Snooker League and soon became the champion of all Wales.
As a miner, Reardon wore white gloves similar to those of a snooker referee, but after meeting his future wife Sue, his career shifted above ground.
Ray and Sue married on Easter Monday in 1959, and a year later, Reardon joined the Stoke-on-Trent police force, where he served for nearly eight years.
In 1964, Reardon won the English amateur championship, defeating John Spencer. The following year, Sue gave birth to their son Darren, and their daughter Melanie was born in 1969.
The legendary snooker player lost to Alex Higgins in the 1982 World Championship final.
Reardon is pictured at the Crucible in the 1980s sporting a (fake) long, bushy beard.
Reardon considered remaining with the police, but ultimately chose snooker. The BBC television show *Pot Black* became a hit, even in black and white, and Reardon won the inaugural edition in 1969 by defeating John Spencer.
However, he lost his opening match at the World Championship that same year, 25-24, to 55-year-old Fred Davis. The following year, at 37, Reardon clinched his first world title by beating John Pulman 37-33 in the final, a moment he described as ‘surpassing any wonder.’
Reardon’s first car, a Ford Prefect, was humorously dubbed the ‘Gutless Wonder.’ Later, he upgraded to a vehicle with the coveted 1 PRO license plate.
In 1974, during the World Championship held in Manchester, Reardon made a memorable appearance in a cape, top hat, and scarlet silk jacket, thanks to sponsorship from Stoke-based Marsden’s Tailors. This outfit led to his association with Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula. Reardon later remarked, “Someone decided the outfit made me look like Dracula, and that name stuck more than most.”
For many years, Reardon played exhibition matches in South Africa during the apartheid era, explaining his participation by saying, “The only world I was trying to change was the world of snooker.”
He dominated the snooker world by winning four consecutive world titles from 1973 to 1976. As the defending champion in 1977, he had the honor of playing in the first match held at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. He defeated Patsy Fagan but was knocked out by the eventual champion, John Spencer.
Reardon poses at home in 1981, a decade after he achieved much of his success.
He secured four consecutive world titles from 1973 to 1976, marking the most impressive period of his career.
Reardon is pictured in 2010, lining up a brown ball while wearing his trademark glasses.
Twelve months later, Reardon triumphed at the Crucible, securing his sixth world title with a 25-18 victory over Perrie Mans at the age of 45 years and 203 days.
Four years after that, he reached the final again but was defeated 18-15 by Alex Higgins.
Reardon remained competitive until the mid-1980s and retired in 1991.
His marriage to Sue ended in divorce during the later years of his playing career.
Reardon settled in Brixham and later Torquay, where he enjoyed many happy years as president of Churston Golf Club.
In 2004, he partnered with Ronnie O’Sullivan in a mentoring role at the World Championship, helping O’Sullivan secure his second world title. This collaboration was encouraged by a call from O’Sullivan’s imprisoned father, Ronnie Snr.
Reardon, who is survived by his second wife Carol, saw the Welsh Open trophy named in his honor in 2016. He enjoyed a quiet retirement in Devon, saying, “It’s nice on the golf course.”
