SIX-TIME WORLD snooker champion Ray Reardon has died at the age of 91.
Welshman Reardon, who dominated the sport in the 1970s, died on Friday night, his wife Carol confirmed to the World Snooker Tour.
A statement on the WST’s official website said: “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.”
Reardon was born on 8 October 1932 in Tredegar in Wales.
He left Georgetown Secondary School at 14 and, after a brief stint as an apprentice motor mechanic, he followed his father Ben down the mines, firstly at nearby Ty Trist and later at the Pochin Colliery.
On 30 April 1957, the world collapsed around the ears of the 24-year-old Reardon as a mining accident almost claimed his life. He was fortunate to see the next day, let alone land six World Championship titles – his last in 1978 aged 45.
The teenage Reardon displayed an aptitude for snooker and was spared evening shifts to allow him to practise. Unlike in the modern game, however, there was little money to be made from potting balls.
One afternoon, after attending a headmaster’s funeral, Reardon ducked out of a school line and into the Tredegar Workmen’s Institute Society, where he won a frame against venue manager Tommy Biggs, who had a wooden leg.
Reardon was swiftly collared by his maths teacher.
From a young age he played cue sports for money, though his father frowned it – until learning 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. He was soon champion of all Wales.
In 1959, he began a career above ground and joined the British police force, but snooker soon won out.
Reardon won the English amateur championship in 1964, beating John Spencer and, in 1969, won the first edition of the BBC television show ‘Pot Black’.
He lost his opener at the World Championship in the same year 25-24 to the 55-year-old Fred Davis. But a year later, the 37-year-old Reardon ruled the snooker world for the first time, beating John Pulman 37-33 in the final.
Reardon said that “nothing will ever surpass the wonder” of the moment.
Manchester staged the 1974 World Championship and, come the closing session of the final against Graham Miles, Reardon introduced the outfit that would forever associate him with Bram Stoker’s blood-sucking Count Dracula.
Stoke-based Marsden’s Tailors sponsored Reardon and he emerged attired in cape, top hat and scarlet silk jacket.
He won four straight world titles from 1973 to 1976. Then, as defending champion, Reardon had the honour of playing on the first morning when the tournament moved to Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 1977. He beat Patsy Fagan before falling to eventual champion Spencer.
Twelve months later and Reardon reigned at the Crucible when a 25-18 victory over Perrie Mans clinched a sixth world title at the age of 45 years and 203 days. Four years later he returned to the final but was beaten 18-15 by Alex Higgins.
Reardon remained competitive until the mid-1980s and retired in 1991. Reardon made Brixham, and later Torquay, his home, and spent many happy years as president of Churston Golf Club.
In 2004 he teamed up with Ronnie O’Sullivan in a mentoring role at the World Championship and helped to steer the Rocket to his second world title. He had received a call from O’Sullivan’s imprisoned father, Ronnie snr, to encourage the union.
Reardon saw the Welsh Open trophy named in his honour in 2016 but savoured his quiet retirement in Devon, saying: “It’s nice on the golf course.”
Written by Press Association and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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