SNOOKER legend Ray Reardan has passed away at the age of 91.
The former world number one died following a battle with cancer.
Tributes have poured in for Reardon, who won the World Snooker Championship six times between 1970 and 1978.
The Welshman became the first player to be ranked world number one when rankings were introduced in 1976.
And he held onto top spot for five years, before gaining it back after just a year in 1982.
Reardon also held the record for the oldest winner of the World Snooker Championship after he won the tournament aged 45 in 1978.
That record was broken by Ronnie O’Sullivan, who he mentored in preparation for the 2004 World Snooker Championship, which The Rocket won.
O’Sullivan credits Reardon for transforming his game, hailing the time he spent with him as the “best two years” of his life.
The Rocket said: “I knew I needed something you know and I kind of felt my game was good but I was always thirsty to see if somebody could make me in to a better player.
“Ray Reardon was that guy and my dad made that phone call and within 24 hours of making a phone call, Ray was up in Sheffield, we met and from then on we had this unbelievable relationship.
In 1949 Reardon was awarded an ash cue for winner the News of the World Amateur title.
He went on to use the cue for 30 years, including in all six of his victories in the World Snooker Championship between 1970-78.
The cue came apart shortly after the 1978 final, when he beat Perrie Mans.
“And I always say, I need to be shown what to do on a snooker table. I have this ability to pot balls and this gift that I find all ball sports easy really but I still feel like I’ve needed help and guidance along the way to make me better, better and better. And once I’m shown what to do I can only incorporate that into my game.
“The word was ‘I’m going to make you into an impregnable player’ and I didn’t even know what ‘impregnable’ meant. I thought, alright, well, if that’s what you think I need then we’ll go along those lines. And then it was just slowly after working in some practice sessions I thought we were just going to pot balls.”
Reardon won five ranking events and was a pioneer of the game alongside the likes of Steve Davis and Alex Higgins.
Among the tributes was a message from former player and rival Jimmy White, which read: “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.”
His countryman Mark Williams, a three-time world champion, 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.”
Another ex-player and BBC commentator John Virgo wrote: “Sad news. Ray Reardon passed away last night, it was an honour to have known him, a true great of our game RIP.”
While Piers Morgan honoured Reardon, saying: “Sad news. Brilliant player, and such a classy gentleman. RIP.”
