Dracula
In the 1970s, Ray Reardon was the dominant figure in Snooker, becoming World Champion in succession. Now, the Welshman is dead at the age of 91. According to his wife Carol, Reardon passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Sad news for Snooker: Ray Reardon, the dominating World Champion of the 1970s, is dead. The Welshman passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning, according to his wife Carol, at the age of 91. He had previously been diagnosed with cancer.
Reardon, nicknamed "Dracula" for his spectacular appearances with capes, top hats, and crimson silk jackets, won six World Championship titles between 1970 and 1978. At his last triumph, Reardon was 45 years and 206 days old, making him the oldest champion at the time. He was surpassed by English superstar Ronnie O'Sullivan (46 years, 146 days) in 2022.
Reardon was one of the most popular and charismatic figures of his time, according to the obituary on the World Snooker Association (WPBSA) website. Popular British player Jimmy White expressed sadness over the news. Reardon was a "Giant" of the game who had been very friendly to him when he first started in the sport, White wrote on X.
The former world number one Reardon was a coal miner and then a policeman for eight years before achieving success in Snooker. While underground, he survived an accident in which a cart and a flood of debris fell on him. Reardon was trapped for three hours. "After this ordeal, I looked out and felt a little like a dirty dishrag," he wrote in his autobiography.
Reardon retired in 1991 at the age of 58, but remained in the Snooker world and supported O'Sullivan as an advisor on his way to the World Championship title in 2004. The trophy for the Welsh Open was named after Reardon in 2016.
Snooker has lost one of its legendary players with the passing of Ray Reardon, the six-time World Champion from the 1970s. Despite his success in the sport, Reardon also had a fascinating background, having worked as a coal miner and a policeman before his Snooker career.
