Dennis Taylor has led tributes to snooker’s “first superstar” after the death of Ray Reardon.
The six-time world champion, nicknamed “Dracula” because of his distinctive widow’s peak hairstyle, died on Friday night after a battle with cancer. He was 91.
A former coal miner and police officer, Reardon was at the forefront of the game’s rise to popularity as a televised sport during the 1970s and is credited with influencing the next generation of superstars.
Taylor, from Coalisland, said: “He was an unbelievable character and an unbelievable player and I learned so much from the great man, Ray Reardon, not only on the table but off the table.
“He was a master tactician on the table and I often say I would have him in my top eight players of all time — he was that good.”
Taylor, the 1985 world champion, recalled playing Reardon in the 1976 World Championship at Middlesbrough Town Hall.
“He beat me in that World Championship and it’s the best snooker anyone has ever played against me, and that includes the great Ronnie O’Sullivan, Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry,” he told the BBC.
“He was awesome and he had to go down to play Alex Higgins in Wythenshawe, when they had split the World Championship up.
“He wasn’t going to give Alex the advantage of playing on the same table. He complained about the table and they adjusted the table, put new cushions on and he went on beat Alex Higgins 27-16 that year.
“He was the first superstar in the world of snooker.
“I’ll never forget when he appeared on the Michael Parkinson Show. I thought, ‘the great Ray Reardon, he’s on Michael Parkinson’, but he could tell an unbelievable story and I was very, very fortunate to travel around the world and have lots and lots of time with Ray.”
Compatriot and three-time world champion Mark Williams told the World Snooker Tour’s official website: “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.”
White paid his own tribute in a post on X: “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.”