Six-time snooker world champion Ray Reardon has died at the age of 91.
The Welshman – widely regarded as one of the greatest snooker players ever – died on Friday after battling cancer, his wife Carol confirmed.
World Snooker said Reardon dominated the sport’s world championship in the 1970s in a similar manner to Steve Davis in the 1980s and Stephen Hendry in the 1990s.
Nicknamed “Dracula” due to his widow’s peak hairstyle, “he was one of the most popular and charismatic figures of his era, loved by millions of fans for his brilliance on the table and good humour off it”, World Snooker said.
Leading the tributes, three-time world champion Mark Williams said: “Ray is one of the best sports people ever from Wales and the best snooker player.
“He’s one of the reasons why a lot of us started playing. He put snooker on the map, alongside Alex Higgins, Jimmy White and Steve Davis.
“Anyone playing now owes them a lot because they brought popularity to the game. He is a real inspiration.”
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Source Agencies
