Ray Reardon Biography Raymond Reardon MBE, born on 8th October 1932 and passed away on 19th July 2025, was a professional snooker player from Wales. He became a professional player in 1967 and had a strong presence in the sport during the 1970s, securing victory in the World Snooker Championship six times along with numerous other tournament wins. Reardon clinched the World Champion title in 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1978, and finished as a runner-up in 1982. Additionally, he emerged victorious in the first Pot Black tournament in 1969, the 1976 Masters, and the 1982 Professional Players Tournament.
Ray Reardon Biography
Reardon was the first world number one player in 1976-77. He held this position for five years. In 1982, he regained the top rank but later fell out of the top 16 after the 1986-87 season. Reardon set records and became the oldest world snooker champion in 1978 at 45 years old. This record stood until Ronnie O’Sullivan won in 2022 at 46 years old. At 50 years and 14 days, Reardon also became the oldest player to win a ranking event in 1982. Despite his achievements, he never scored a maximum break in a tournament; his highest break was 146. Reardon retired from professional competition in 1991. Reardon helped O’Sullivan win his second title. Steve Davis admired Reardon’s style before going pro in 1978. Reardon was known as “Dracula” due to his distinctive features. He served as the president of Churston golf club for over 40 years. Reardon received an MBE in 1985.
Ray Reardon Biography Details
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Born
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8 October 1932
Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales
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Died
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19 July 2025 (aged 91)
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Sport country
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Wales
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Nickname
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Dracula
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Professional
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1967–1991
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Highest ranking
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1 (1976–1981, 1982–1983)
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Tournament wins
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Ranking
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5
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World Champion
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197019731974197519761978 |
Early life
Reardon was born on 8 October 1932 in Tredegar, Monmouthshire, Wales. Introduced to snooker at a young age by his uncle, he began practicing cue sports regularly at the Tredegar Workmen’s Institute. He focused on English billiards, which honed his cue ball control and potting skills. At 14, he chose a mining career over attending grammar school like his father. Reardon protected his hands with white gloves while mining, a habit that stemmed from his love for snooker. Following a rockfall incident, he transitioned to become a police officer in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire in 1960, supported by his wife Sue.
Who is Ray Reardon?
Raymond Reardon MBE was a Welsh professional snooker player. He turned professional in 1967 and dominated the sport in the 1970s, winning the World Snooker Championship six times and more than a dozen other tournaments. Reardon was World Champion in 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1978, and runner-up in 1982.
Born: 8 October 1932, Tredegar, United Kingdom
Died: 19 July 2025 (age 91 years)
Nickname: Dracula
Spouse: Carol Covington (m. 1987–2025)
Height: 1.83 m
Nationality: British, Welsh
Professional: 1967–1991
Former world snooker champion Ray Reardon dies aged 91
Former snooker champion Ray Reardon, who ruled the game in the 1970s, died at 91. Reardon, from Wales, battled cancer and passed away on Friday night as confirmed by his wife Carol. Known for winning six world titles, he was praised as one of the best players ever. His friend Jimmy White expressed sadness at his passing and praised his kindness and talent. Reardon earned an MBE for his achievements in snooker. He was nicknamed ‘Dracula’ for his unique outfit during a championship final in 1974. Despite starting as a coal miner and police officer, he became a top snooker player admired for his skills.
He had a lucky escape from a mining accident where he was trapped under debris for three hours after a girder and rubble fell on him while he was working on a pit lane. In his autobiography, he described how he felt like a dirty dishcloth and experienced excruciating pain when the blood started flowing back into his numb legs. Despite the ordeal, he received water and recovered quickly. Reardon retired in 1991 at 58 but continued to be involved in snooker, providing consultancy to Ronnie O’Sullivan during his 2004 world title victory. The Welsh Open trophy was dedicated to Reardon in 2016.
Inside Ray Reardon’s scandalous love life: from walking out on first wife to pursuing an eight-year affair, as snooker legend dies ages 91
Ray Reardon quickly rose to fame in the 1970s upon entering the world of snooker. Despite reaching great heights in his career, he had the support of two women. Today, his second wife Carol announced the passing of the six-time world snooker champion at 91 due to cancer. Their relationship, which lasted 37 years, had an unconventional beginning in 1977 while Ray was still married to his first wife Sue, with whom he had two children. This marked the year Ray lost the world title championship for the first time in five years but reclaimed it the following year. This article explores the forgotten scandal that tarnished Ray’s reputation as a family man.
Near death experience and first wife’s support
At 24, Ray, a famous snooker player from Tredegar, had a dangerous mining accident. He left school at 14 to briefly work as an apprentice mechanic before joining his father in the mines. In 1956, Ray moved to North Staffordshire to work at Florence Colliery. The next year, he got trapped under rubble while working in the mine. Despite being stuck for three hours, Ray stayed calm by remembering playing marbles with his brother. He later wrote about this terrifying experience in his autobiography from 1982. After the incident, his wife Sue convinced him to quit the risky job and join the police force in Stoke-on-Trent in 1960. They got married two years later and had a son named Darren in 1965. Following his victory in the English amateur championship in 1964, Ray was inspired by Sue to pursue professional snooker. In 1969, he won the BBC tournament Pot Black and welcomed their daughter Melanie into the world that same year.
Eight-year affair with Carol
In the 1970s, Ray was a top snooker player and got the nickname ‘Dracula’ for an outfit he wore. Stoke-based Marsden’s Tailors sponsored him, dressing him in a cape, top hat, and silk jacket. Ray said, ‘The outfit made me look like Dracula,’ leading to the nickname sticking. Ray met his second wife Carol around 1977 when his World Championship streak ended. They never shared how they met or Carol’s job. They had an eight-year affair before Ray left Sue in 1985 to be with Carol. The same year, they took family photos with Darren and Melanie at Buckingham Palace when Ray received an OBE. To manage a scandal, Ray told the Daily Mirror that his first wife knew about the affair before he left.
Retreating from the limelight
After Ray’s affair news surfaced, he and Carol had a photoshoot but then stayed silent. They wed in 1987 in a simple ceremony in Paignton town hall. Ray quit snooker in 1991 and lived with Carol in Devon. He was the Churston Golf Club president. In 2004, he mentored Ronnie O’Sullivan at the World Championship for his second title. Carol Reardon spoke about her husband for the first time publicly today. Ray Reardon, a six-time world champion, passed away at 91, as announced on WST’s website. Jimmy White expressed sorrow for his late friend Ray Reardon. Piers Morgan called Ray brilliant and classy, mourning his death. Mark Williams praised Ray as one of Wales’ best sportspeople and a reason many started playing snooker.
Ray Reardon Images
