Snooker legend Ray Reardon dies aged 91 following cancer battle as tributes pour in for six-time world champion
Ray Reardon died on Friday after battling cancer
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Snooker legend Ray Reardon has died at the age of 91 as tributes have poured in.
The Welshman died on Friday after battling cancer, his wife Carol confirmed.
Reardon dominated the sport during the 1970s, winning all six of his championships in that decade alone.
A statement on the World Snooker Tour’s (WST) official website said: “Ray Reardon, widely regarded as one of the greatest snooker players ever and a six-time world champion, has died at the age of 91.”
Ray Reardon died on Friday after battling cancerPAReardon, was the first player to be ranked "world number one" when world rankings were introduced during the 1976-77 season.
"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", WST said.
Reardon was still playing snooker in recent months, even making a century break last November, just a few months after his 91st birthday.
Before turning pro, 'Dracula' worked at a mine and as a police officer, while playing snooker as an amateur.
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Ray Reardon dominated the snooker world during the 70s
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He won the Welsh Amateur Championship every year from 1950 to 1955 and the English equivalent for the first time in 1964.
Three years later in 1967, at the age of 35, he took the decision to quit policing and try his hand at professional snooker.
Reardon was awarded an MBE in 1985 and was inducted into the snooker Hall of Fame in 2011.
Tributes have poured in from across the snooker world as current and former players take to social media to honour the legend.
Tributes have poured in from across the snooker world
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Jimmy White wrote: "Gutted to hear my very good friend Ray Reardon has passed away. A total class act and very kind to me when I was making my way in the game. A giant of the game. Rest in Peace mate."
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.”
He is survived by his wife Carol and his two children from his first marriage to Sue.
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