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

Wales’ Reardon was broadly considered certainly one of snooker’s greatest-ever gamers. He handed away on Friday evening after a battle with most cancers.

Nicknamed ‘Dracula’, he grew to become a family title as he dominated the World Championship within the Seventies.

Main the tributes, three-time Crucible king Mark Williams mentioned: “Ray is among the finest sports activities folks ever from Wales and the perfect snooker participant. He is one of many the explanation why loads of us began taking part in. He put snooker on the map, alongside Alex Higgins, Jimmy White and Steve Davis.

“Anybody taking part in now owes them quite a bit as a result of they introduced recognition to the sport. He’s an actual inspiration.”

Jimmy White wrote on social media: “Gutted to listen to my excellent buddy Ray Reardon has handed away.

“A complete class act and really form to me after I was making my means within the sport. A large of the sport. Relaxation in Peace mate.”

Dennis Taylor, winner of the 1985 world championship, mentioned on X: “So unhappy to listen to of the passing of the nice Ray Reardon. Would all the time be in my prime 8 of all time.

“Had the pleasure of touring world wide with a real gentleman. Condolences to all his household. RIP Ray.”

Shaun Murphy, world champion in 2005, mentioned: “What a person you had been Ray. An absolute animal on the desk, and a complete gentleman off it. It was an honour to spend time with you whether or not we performed snooker or golf – I will treasure each minute. Relaxation in peace.”

Judd Trump informed media: “He is clearly a legend of the sport, somebody that goes down within the historical past e book of Welsh sport who was the flagbearer for Welsh snooker.

“It is a very unhappy day for snooker. Finest needs to all his family and friends.”

Mark Selby, a four-time world champion, tweeted: “Terribly unhappy information to listen to the passing of Ray Reardon.

“Didn’t handle to be in his presence a lot, however what a legend of our sport. RIP Ray.”

Reardon was nonetheless taking part in snooker in current months, and remarkably made a century break final November, a number of weeks after his 91st birthday.

Reardon received his first world championship in 1970 when he defeated John Pulman 37-33 within the closing.

That was the start of his period of domination, as he went on to say world titles in 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1978.

In that closing victory in 1978 he grew to become the oldest world champion on the age of 45, a file that was solely surpassed by a 46-year-old Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2022.

It was additionally Reardon’s solely success on the Crucible, the place the championship had moved in 1977.

He beat Perrie Mans 25-18 within the closing and his modern-day file of six titles was not matched till Steve Davis reached that tally in 1989.

Reardon reached yet one more Crucible closing in 1982 when he was crushed by Alex Higgins.

In 2004 he teamed up with O’Sullivan in a mentoring position on the World Championship and helped to steer the ‘Rocket’ to his second world title.

Reardon was awarded an MBE and was inducted into the snooker Corridor of Fame in 2011.

Every year the winner of the Welsh Open is offered with the Ray Reardon Trophy.