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Ray Reardon, the six-time world snooker champion known as ‘Dracula’, dies aged 91

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Ray Reardon, the six-time world snooker champion known as ‘Dracula’, dies aged 91

  • In short: Six-time world snooker champion Ray Reardon died at the age of 91 after a battle with cancer.
  • He was nicknamed “Dracula” for his signature widow’s peak, and known to the sport’s fans as a charismatic figure of the 1970s.
  • Peers Mark Williams and Jimmy White paid tribute to the player, saying “he put snooker on the map”.

Six-time world champion Ray Reardon has died at the age of 91, World Snooker has announced.

Nicknamed “Dracula” for his signature widow’s peak, Reardon dominated the sport’s World Championships in the 1970s.

He is known as one of the most charismatic snooker players of his era, garnering fame for his excellence on the table and humour off it.

Reardon’s wife Carol told World Snooker that the star player died on Friday after a battle with cancer.

Although the Welshman officially retired from the game in 1991, he was still playing snooker in the months before his death.

He made a century break last November, just a few weeks after his 91st birthday.

After news of his death, the “Dracula” of snooker was memorialised by peers, including three-time Crucible king Mark Williams and four-time seniors world champion Jimmy White.

“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,” Mr Williams said.

“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.”

Posting on X, Mr White said he was “gutted” to hear news of Reardon’s death.

Reardon is survived by his wife and their two children.

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