Ray Reardon Welsh former professional snooker player Date of Birth: 08.10.1932 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Amateur Career
2. Debut on the Professional Circuit
3. Professional Career (1967-1992)
4. Later Career
5. Retirement and Legacy

Early Life and Amateur Career

Ray Reardon was born in the small mining town of Tredegar, Wales, in 1932. At the age of 14, he followed family tradition and became a coal miner. However, he harbored a passion for snooker and even wore gloves while working to protect his hands for playing. An underground collapse at the mine left Reardon trapped for several hours, prompting him to leave mining and become a police officer in Stoke-on-Trent.

Despite his job change, Reardon continued pursuing snooker and won the News of the World amateur championship in 1949. A year later, he captured the Welsh Amateur Championship, a title he would win five more times throughout his career. Upon returning to Tredegar, Reardon joined forces with fellow talented player Cliff Wilson for exhibition matches, honing his skills further. This culminated in his victory at the English Amateur Championship in 1964, where he defeated the first of his great rivals on the professional circuit, John Spencer.

Debut on the Professional Circuit

Reardon's success at the English Amateur Championship proved to be a pivotal moment. Sponsorship soon followed, and in 1967, relying solely on his family's support, he made the bold decision to leave the police force and turn professional. Within months, he had achieved professional status.

Professional Career (1967-1992)

Reardon made his World Championship debut in 1969 but lost in the first round to Fred Davis. However, he made an emphatic return the following year, winning the championship with a 37-33 victory over eight-time champion John Pulman. This victory, coupled with his triumph at the Pot Black Cup later that year, propelled Reardon to fame as a snooker icon.

Reardon's attempt to defend his World Championship title in 1971 ended in a heavy quarterfinal defeat to Spencer. He also suffered a first-round exit in the following year's tournament. In 1973, however, he reclaimed the title, defeating Eddie Charlton of Australia 38-32. The highlight of the tournament was the 23-22 semifinal victory over Spencer. A year later, he won his third World Championship, this time against Graham Miles of England.

The 1975 World Championship, held in Australia, presented Reardon with a tough first-round match against John Spencer. He eventually prevailed 19-17, followed by a 19-14 victory over Alex Higgins. In a gripping final against home favorite Eddie Charlton, Reardon rallied from 23-29 down to win seven consecutive frames. Charlton took the 60th frame to level the match, but Reardon held his nerve in the deciding frame to retain his title.

Reardon's dominance continued the following year, as he became the first player to win three professional tournaments in a single season. He claimed his fourth consecutive World Championship, defeating Alex Higgins in the final, and also won the Masters and Pontins Professional tournaments. This was an extraordinary feat, given that only three or four professional tournaments were held annually at that time.

The introduction of the world snooker rankings in the 1977/78 season saw Reardon assume the top spot with 15 points, six points ahead of Alex Higgins. However, his six-year reign as World Champion came to an end with a 6-13 defeat to Spencer in the Crucible Theater. Reardon regained the title in 1978, winning his sixth title with a 25-18 victory over Perrie Mans.

Later Career

Reardon held the number one ranking until the 1980/81 season, when he was overtaken by Cliff Thorburn of Canada. However, he reclaimed the top spot the following year, reaching his seventh World Championship final. At the age of 50, he faced a younger opponent in Alex Higgins, who emerged victorious with an 18-15 victory.

In 1983, Reardon became the oldest player to win a professional title, defeating Jimmy White 9-6 in the final of the Yamaha Organs International Masters. However, his eyesight began to decline around this time, and he started wearing glasses. Despite this, he played his last professional final in the 1985 World Doubles with Tony Jones, losing 5-12 to Steve Davis and Tony Meo.

Reardon retired from professional snooker in 1992 at the age of 60. He remained active in the sport as a chairman of the WPBSA and participated in competitions for former professionals. He also briefly worked as a coach, notably with Ronnie O'Sullivan during the 2004/2005 season.

Retirement and Legacy

Ray Reardon currently resides in Charston, Devon, England, and continues to enjoy golf and snooker. He passed away on July 19, 2024, at the age of 91.

Reardon's legacy as a snooker legend is undeniable. Known for his flair and humor, he won four consecutive World Championships and made a record 17 consecutive victories in the tournament. His imposing appearance, with dark, slicked-back hair and an overbite, earned him the nickname "Dracula." His memorable performances were even immortalized in the musical "Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire" and the song "Spook Perv Happenings in the Snooker Hall" by the band Lawnmower Deth.

Inducted into the Snooker Hall of Fame in 2011, Reardon received an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1985 for his services to the sport. He compiled over 70 century breaks in his career and remains widely regarded as the greatest Welsh snooker player of all time and one of the greatest to ever grace the game.