Six-time world snooker champion Ray Reardon has died on the age of 91.
Welshman Reardon, who dominated the game within the Seventies, died on Friday night time, his spouse Carol confirmed to the World Snooker Tour.
An announcement on the WST’s official web site stated: ‘Ray Reardon, extensively considered one of many best snooker gamers ever and a six-time world champion, has died on the age of 91.’
Jimmy White stated on X: ‘Gutted to listen to my superb pal Ray Reardon has handed away.
‘A complete class act and really variety to me once I was making my approach within the recreation. A large of the sport. Relaxation in Peace mate.’
Snooker legend Ray Reardon has died aged 91 following a battle with most cancers
Reardon will go down in historical past as one among snooker’s greats and gained six world titles
Reardon, pictured along with his first spouse Sue, receives his MBE in 1985 at Buckingham Palace
Piers Morgan posted: ‘Unhappy information. Sensible participant, and such an aesthetic gentleman. RIP.’
Compatriot and three-time world champion Mark Williams instructed the World Snooker Tour’s official web site: ‘Ray is without doubt one of the finest sports activities folks ever from Wales and one of the best snooker participant. He is one of many the explanation why a variety of us began taking part in.
‘He put snooker on the map, alongside Alex Higgins, Jimmy White and Steve Davis. Anybody taking part in now owes them quite a bit as a result of they introduced recognition to the sport. He’s an actual inspiration.’
Reardon, recognized fondly as ‘Dracula’ grew to become a family title. But his story nearly ended lengthy earlier than the Welshman with the widow’s peak discovered stardom.
On April 30, 1957, the world collapsed across the ears of the 24-year-old Reardon as a mining accident nearly claimed his life.
He was lucky to see the following day, not to mention land six World Championship titles – his final in 1978 aged 45.
Reardon, who has died on the age of 91, was born on October 8, 1932 in Tredegar.
He left Georgetown Secondary Faculty at 14 and, after a short stint as an apprentice motor mechanic, he adopted his father Ben down the pits, firstly at close by Ty Trist and later on the Pochin Colliery.
The teenage Reardon displayed an inherent ability for snooker and was spared night shifts to permit him to practise. Not like within the trendy recreation, nevertheless, there was little cash to be produced from potting balls.
Chopping coal underground was the profession alternative, and when Welsh mines started to shut the Reardon household uprooted to North Staffordshire. Ben and Ray Reardon discovered work on the Florence Colliery in 1956 and within the following 12 months catastrophe nearly struck.
The long run world-beating cueman was growing a pit roadway when a ‘trickle of filth’ fell on his helmet. Sensing hazard, he hurled himself down and when a 12-foot girder crashed down together with a deluge of rubble, Reardon was trapped.
Reardon had an inherent ability for cue video games from a younger age and developed into the world’s finest
Reardon strains up a shot with the remainder throughout a match again in 1982
Referee Michaela Tabb poses for an image with Reardon at a Legends Tour match
He was rescued after three hours, Reardon drawing on reminiscences of taking part in marbles with brother Ron – 17 years his junior – to keep away from panicking.
In his 1982 autobiography, Reardon recalled: ‘My ordeal had left me feeling and looking a bit like a unclean dishcloth and when the blood began to flow into in my numb legs it had me screaming in ache for a second or so, however they gave me sips of water and shortly I used to be all proper.’
Throughout warfare time, mom Cynthia had purchased the younger Ray a 4ft x 2ft billiard desk for Christmas and he exhibited pure expertise.
One afternoon, after attending a headmaster’s funeral, Reardon ducked out of a faculty line and into the Tredegar Workmen’s Institute Society, the place he gained a body in opposition to venue supervisor Tommy Biggs, who had a picket leg. Reardon was swiftly collared by his maths trainer.
From a younger age he performed cue sports activities for cash. His father frowned on this, till studying his son was successful.
By the age of 13 Reardon was representing the Institute’s males’s crew within the Sirhowy Valley Billiards and Snooker League. He was quickly champion of all Wales.
As a miner, Reardon wore white gloves just like these of a snooker referee, however after assembly future spouse Sue his profession moved above floor.
Ray and Sue married on Easter Monday in 1959 and Reardon joined the Stoke-on-Trent police drive a 12 months later, staying for nearly eight years.
He gained the English newbie championship in 1964, beating John Spencer, and a 12 months later grew to become a father when Sue gave start to their son Darren. Daughter Melanie adopted in 1969.
The legendary snooker gamers misplaced to Alex Higgins within the 1982 World Championship remaining
Reardon is pictured on the Crucible within the Nineteen Eighties sporting a protracted bushy beard
Reardon thought of staying with the police, however snooker gained out. The BBC tv present Pot Black was successful, even whereas many watched in black and white, and Reardon defeated Spencer to win the primary version in 1969.
He misplaced his opener on the World Championship in the identical 12 months 25-24 to the 55-year-old Fred Davis. However a 12 months later, the 37-year-old Reardon dominated the snooker world for the primary time, beating John Pulman 37-33 within the remaining. He stated that ‘nothing will ever surpass the surprise’ of the second.
Reardon’s first automotive was a Ford Prefect he labelled the ‘Gutless Marvel’. Later, after upgrading, he owned the 1 PRO licence plate.
Manchester staged the 1974 World Championship and, come the closing session of the ultimate in opposition to Graham Miles, Reardon launched the outfit that may without end affiliate him with Bram Stoker’s blood-sucking Depend Dracula.
Stoke-based Marsden’s Tailors sponsored Reardon and he emerged attired in cape, high hat and scarlet silk jacket.
‘Somebody determined the outfit made me appear to be Dracula and that title caught to me greater than most,’ Reardon later stated.
Reardon for a few years performed exhibitions in South Africa throughout the apartheid period, explaining the journeys by saying: ‘The one world I used to be making an attempt to alter was the world of snooker.’
He gained 4 straight world titles from 1973 to 1976. Then, as defending champion, Reardon had the honour of taking part in on the primary morning when the match moved to Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 1977. He beat Patsy Fagan earlier than falling to eventual champion Spencer.
Reardon poses at residence in 1981, the last decade after he loved most of his success
He gained 4 straight world titles from 1973 to 1976 in one of the best run of his profession
Reardon is seen lining up a brown whereas carrying his trademark glasses in 2010
Twelve months later and Reardon reigned on the Crucible when a 25-18 victory over Perrie Mans clinched a sixth world title on the age of 45 years and 203 days.
4 years later he returned to the ultimate however was overwhelmed 18-15 by Alex Higgins.
Reardon remained aggressive till the mid-Nineteen Eighties and retired in 1991.
His marriage to Sue resulted in divorce throughout the twilight years of his taking part in profession.
Reardon made Brixham, and later Torquay, his residence, and spent many joyful years as president of Churston Golf Membership.
In 2004 he teamed up with Ronnie O’Sullivan in a mentoring position on the World Championship and helped to steer the Rocket to his second world title. He had obtained a name from O’Sullivan’s imprisoned father, Ronnie snr, to encourage the union.
Reardon, who’s survived by his second spouse Carol, noticed the Welsh Open trophy named in his honour in 2016 however savoured his quiet retirement in Devon, saying: ‘It is good on the golf course.’
