RIP Ray Reardon

Sad news that Ray Reardon has died aged 91

https://x.com/WeAreWST/status/1814619267536433480

one of the greats of the snooker

Brilliant snooker player and a genuine gentleman, getting balls racked up ready for him in the better place.

A great snooker player, a wonderful character with his avuncular Dracula role and a mentor to the greatest of all time, Ronnie O'Sullivan. Rest in peace Ray

Ray Reardon was the ultimate gentleman of the sport I love so much. A substantial amount of his career was before snooker hit the big time Crucible era for the World Championship.
He had outstanding success in the Welsh Amateur Championship seven times before turning pro in 1967.
From there he dominated the World Professional Championship winning it six times between 1970 and 1978.
The last of his World titles was his only one won at The Crucible although he did make the final in 1982 losing in infamous scenes to Alex Higgins.
He was the champion of the very first Pot Black and also won The Masters in 1976 as further hallmarks of a truly stellar career.

For a short time he became a mentor to Ronnie O'Sullivan which produced superb results for The Rocket. Their friendship lived on and I know Ronnie will be desperately sad to learn of Ray's passing.

Ray Reardon retired from the professional game but still kept his enthusiasm for the sport. So much so last year at the age of 90 he was still able to knock in a century break.

The tributes are pouring in from players of the modern game which while entirely right and proper gives a further indication of due reverence to an outstanding legend of snooker, of sport and of Wales.
As a snooker player he was a magnificent technician and a superb all rounder. For all that though and far more importantly he was a truly lovely man.

Today snooker mourns the loss of one of its most formidable ambassadors.
The players of today have much cause to admire the example he set, the career he enjoyed and his long enduring love for the game.

I mourn with them. Today is the saddest of days.

Rest in Peace Kind Soul.
You will forever be sorely missed.

A strange contrast that his nickname was at odds with his personality, a true gent with a great sense of humour. Played in an era when a number of more flamboyant stars came into the game when he was already an established performer & he held his own & showed great tenacity against some of the young guns & more than held his own. A quality player who will have missed out on the times when big prize money became prevalent, his long career reflects that he was in it for the love of the game which continued into his retirement.

RIP Dracula

A legend of his era, when championships might have been fewer, but matches lasted longer. A great ambassador, who saw how hard life could be off the table too. RIP

A very sad day in sport

RIP to a true gentleman & legend of Sport. Ray was one of THE very best on the baize and I am Sure Alex will be waiting to see him. Respect given.

A multiple World champion and remember him being Pot Black champion. He will be sorely missed.

RIP

RIP

An absolute legend
Will be dearly missed.
Words cannot say how much of a loss he is to the game of snooker.

Hi

Very sad but he had a good life, I saw him at the old Wembley 30th January 1983 and the welcome he received was amazing

RIP Ray