View source for Ray Reardon

{{Short description|Welsh professional snooker player (1932–2024)}}
{{Featured article}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox snooker player
|name             = Ray Reardon
|honorific_suffix = [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]
|image            = Ray Reardon 1949.jpg
|caption          = Reardon in 1949
|birth_date       = {{birth date|1932|10|8|df=y}}
|birth_place      = [[Tredegar]], Monmouthshire, Wales
|death_date       = {{death date and age|2024|7|19|1932|10|8|df=y}}
|death_place      =
|Sport country    = Wales
|Professional     = 1967–1991
|High ranking     = '''[[List of world number one snooker players|1]]''' (1976–1981, 1982–1983)
|Ranking wins     = 5
|World champ      = {{Hlist|[[1970 World Snooker Championship|1970]] | [[1973 World Snooker Championship|1973]] | [[1974 World Snooker Championship|1974]] | [[1975 World Snooker Championship|1975]] | [[1976 World Snooker Championship|1976]] | [[1978 World Snooker Championship|1978]]}}
}}

'''Raymond Reardon''' (8 October 1932 – 19 July 2024) was a Welsh professional [[snooker]] player who dominated the sport in the 1970s, winning the [[World Snooker Championship]] six times and claiming more than a dozen other professional titles. Due to his dark [[widow's peak]] and prominent [[eye teeth]], he was nicknamed "[[Dracula]]".

Until his mid-thirties, Reardon worked as a coal miner and then as a police officer while pursuing snooker at an amateur level. His titles during this era included six consecutive [[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championships]] from 1950 to 1955 and the [[English Amateur Championship]] in 1964. He turned professional in 1967 and became World Champion in [[1970 World Snooker Championship|1970]], [[1973 World Snooker Championship|1973]], [[1974 World Snooker Championship|1974]], [[1975 World Snooker Championship|1975]], [[1976 World Snooker Championship|1976]], and [[1978 World Snooker Championship|1978]]; he was also runner-up in [[1982 World Snooker Championship|1982]]. His other major tournament wins included the inaugural ''[[Pot Black]]'' tournament in [[1969 Pot Black|1969]], the [[1976 Masters (snooker)|1976 Masters]], and the [[1982 Professional Players Tournament]]. The [[List of world number one snooker players|first player to be ranked "world number one"]] when world rankings were introduced during the [[1976–77 snooker season|1976–77 season]], he held the position for the next five years. He regained the top ranking position in [[1982–83 snooker season|1982]], after which his form declined; he dropped out of the elite top-16 ranked players after the [[1986–87 snooker season|1986–87 season]].

In 1978, Reardon became the oldest World Champion, aged 45 years and 203 days, a record he held for the next 44 years, until [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] won his seventh world title at the [[2022 World Snooker Championship|2022 event]], aged 46 years and 148 days. Reardon became the oldest winner of a ranking title when he won the [[1982 Professional Players Tournament]] aged 50 years and 14 days; his record endured for 43 years, until [[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]] won the [[2025 Xi'an Grand Prix]] at the age of 50 years and 206 days. Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1985, Reardon retired from professional competition in 1991, aged 58. He never achieved a [[maximum break]] in tournament play; his highest {{cuegloss|break}} in competition was 146. 

During his retirement, Reardon served as president of [[Churston Ferrers]] golf club in [[Devon]], where he was a member for over 40 years. He [[mentor]]ed O'Sullivan in preparation for his [[2004 World Snooker Championship|2004 World Championship]] campaign, helping him lift his second world title. In 2017, the [[Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]] trophy was renamed the ''Ray Reardon Trophy'' in his honour. Reardon died from cancer in July 2024, aged 91.

==Early life==
The son of Ben and Cynthia Reardon,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=2024-07-21 |title=Ray Reardon obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/jul/21/ray-reardon-obituary |access-date=2024-07-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> he was born on 8 October 1932 in the coal mining community of [[Tredegar]] in [[Monmouthshire]], Wales.<ref name="then and now"/> When eight years old, he was introduced to a version of [[snooker]] by his uncle, and at ten he was practising [[cue sports]] twice-weekly at Tredegar Workmen's Institute as well as on a scaled-down [[billiard table]] at home. He primarily played [[English billiards]] rather than snooker, which, according to authors Luke Williams and Paul Gadsby, helped improve his control of the {{cuegloss|cue ball}} and his {{cuegloss|pot|potting}}.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=68}} At the age of 14, following in the footsteps of his father, Reardon turned down a place at a grammar school to become a miner at [[Tredegar Iron and Coal Company|Ty Trist Colliery]]. He wore white gloves while mining, to protect his hands for snooker.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=68}} He made his first [[century break]] on his 17th birthday.<ref name=":0" />

In March 1959, Reardon married Sue, a pottery painter.<ref name="AUTOB">{{cite book |last1=Reardon |first1=Ray |last2=Buxton |first2=Peter |title=Ray Reardon |year=1982 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbott |isbn=0715382624 }}</ref>{{rp|43}} After a rockfall in which he was buried for three hours, and with Sue's encouragement, he quit mining and became a police officer in 1960 when his family moved to [[Stoke-on-Trent]] in [[Staffordshire]], England.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=68}}<ref name="AUTOB"/>{{rp|43}} While serving in the police force, Reardon earned commendations for bravery. On one occasion, he disarmed a man who was wielding a shotgun. On another, he crawled across an icy rooftop and dropped through a skylight onto a burglar.<ref name=":0" />

==Amateur snooker career==
In 1949, Reardon won the ''[[News of the World]]'' Amateur title and was awarded an [[Fraxinus|ash]] [[cue stick]], presented to him by 15-time world snooker champion, [[Joe Davis]]. Reardon used this cue for almost 30 years until it came apart shortly after the [[1978 World Snooker Championship|1978 World Championship]] final.{{sfn|Morrison|1987|pp=108–109}} He reached the final of the 1949–50 under-19 Junior championship, losing 2–3 to Jack Carney.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=High quality snooker in 1949–50 B.A. & C.C. youth's (16–18) snooker championship |magazine=The Billiard Player |publisher=Billiards Association and Control Council |date=December 1949 |page=13 }}</ref> Reardon first won the [[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]] in 1950, defeating the defending champion John Ford 5–3 in the final,<ref name="WAM50" /> and he retained the title every year until 1955.<ref name="WELSHS">{{cite web |title=Welsh Championship Records |url=https://www.welshsnooker.com/welsh-championship-records |website=welshsnooker.com |publisher=WBSA |access-date=22 July 2021 |archive-date=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181013145330/https://www.welshsnooker.com/welsh-championship-records |url-status=live }}</ref> He reached the final of the 1956 [[English Amateur Championship]], where he led Tommy Gordon 7–3 after the first day, but lost the {{cuegloss|cue tip|tip}} from his cue early on the second day and was defeated 9–11.{{sfn|Everton|1985|p=26}}

Reardon played a fellow Tredegar resident, [[Cliff Wilson]], in a succession of {{cuegloss|money game|money matches}} and faced him several times in amateur tournaments.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hodgson |first=Guy |title=Obituary: Cliff Wilson |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-cliff-wilson-1438835.html |work=The Independent |date=26 May 1994 |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=2 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402073209/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-cliff-wilson-1438835.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CWOBIT">{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Cue for a happy life |work=The Guardian |date=28 May 1994 |page=30}}</ref> Their contests attracted hundreds of spectators and in his 1979 book, ''The Story of Billiards and Snooker'', [[Clive Everton]] describes them as "modern snooker's nearest equivalent to a bare knuckle prize fight."{{sfn|Everton|1979|p=80}}

After losing in the first round of the 1957 English Amateur Championship, Reardon decided to take some time out from competitive snooker to work on improving his game. He next entered the championship in 1964, when he won the title by defeating [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]] 11–8 in the final.{{sfn|Everton|Silverton|1972|page=19}}

==Professional career==

===Six times world snooker champion===
That victory in 1964 led to an invitation to tour South Africa with [[Jonathan Barron]], which proved so successful that Reardon was offered the opportunity to return and tour again as a professional. He returned there after having resigned from the police force and turned professional in 1967. When he played [[Jimmy van Rensberg]] in the South African Challenge, Reardon won the best-of-three matches event 2–1.{{sfn|Everton|1985|p=26}}{{sfn|Everton|Silverton|1972|pages=19–20}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ray Reardon turns professional |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=Billiards Association and Control Council |date=December 1967 |page=5}}</ref>

Reardon's first appearance at the [[World Snooker Championship]] was in [[1969 World Snooker Championship|1969]] in a quarter-final against [[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]] in Stoke-on-Trent.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Observer |date=17 November 1968 |page=18 |title=Old pros face the new men |first=Clive |last=Everton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49817992/the-observer/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103203204/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49817992/the-observer/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The match featured lengthy tactical exchanges between the players, resulting in some of the longest sessions ever recorded in World Championship play.<ref name="BPFEB69"/> Neither player was ahead by more than two {{cuegloss|frame|frames}} until Reardon won the 27th frame to lead 15–12, after which Davis won six frames in a row. The best-of-49-frames match went to a {{cuegloss|deciding frame}}, which Davis won.<ref name="BPFEB69">{{cite magazine |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Davis wears down Reardon |magazine=Billiards and Snooker |publisher=Billiards Association and Control Council |date=February 1969 |pages=4–5 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=28 January 1969 |page=24 |title=Snooker win in last frame |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49819955/the-sydney-morning-herald/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=23 July 2021 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723152034/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49819955/the-sydney-morning-herald/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 1969, the [[BBC]] began broadcasting ''[[Pot Black]]'', a competition of one-frame matches which became popular with viewers and enhanced the profile and earning power of the participants. Reardon won the first series by defeating Spencer 88–29 in the one-frame final.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=71}}

In London in April [[1970 World Snooker Championship|1970]], Reardon won the World Championship for the first time, defeating Davis in the quarter-finals, Spencer in the semi-finals, and [[John Pulman]] 37–33 in the final, having led 27–14 before Pulman reduced the lead to one frame at 34–33.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=71}}{{sfn|Everton|1985|p=56}} At the [[1971 World Snooker Championship|next World Championship]], played in Australia in November 1970, Reardon won all four of his [[Round-robin tournament|round-robin group]] matches,<ref name=smh22oct1970a>{{cite news |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o6spAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5453%2C8927310 |date=22 October 1970 |page=15 |title=Reardon in final four |access-date=1 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312092928/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o6spAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5453%2C8927310 |archive-date=12 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Match by match |magazine=World Snooker |publisher=Clive Everton |location=Birmingham |date=January 1971 |pages=1–2}}</ref> and qualified for a place in the semi-finals, where Spencer established a winning margin against him at 25–7 and finished the match 34–15 ahead after {{cuegloss|dead frame|dead frames}}.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=72}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Spencer makes the final |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=30 October 1970 |page=15 }}</ref> Reardon won the October 1971 edition of the [[Park Drive 2000]], defeating Spencer 4–3 in the final after placing second in the round-robin stage (behind Spencer who had placed first). In the Spring 1972 edition, he made a break of 146 in the round-robin, which was the highest-ever break in competitive play at that time.{{sfn|Everton|1981|p=90}} This remained the highest official break of Reardon's career,<ref name="WST profile" /> as he never achieved a [[maximum break]] of 147 in tournament play.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official 147s |url=https://wst.tv/wpbsa/official-147s/ |website=World Snooker |access-date=24 July 2021 |archive-date=22 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722103149/https://wst.tv/wpbsa/official-147s/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><!--The absence of Reardon's name in this official list is evidence that he did not record a 147 in competition.-->

At the [[1972 World Snooker Championship|1972 World Championship]], Reardon lost his first match 22–25 to [[Rex Williams]] in the quarter-finals.<ref name="SCENEWC">{{cite web |title=Embassy World Championship|url=http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124071753/http://www.snookerscene.co.uk/page.php?id=36|archive-date=24 January 2013|website=Snooker Scene|access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref> He reached the final of the [[1973 World Snooker Championship|1973 World Championship]] in [[Manchester]], beating [[Jim Meadowcroft]] 16–10, and Spencer 23–22. He lost the first seven frames of the final to [[Eddie Charlton]], but took 17 of the next 23 to hold a four-frame advantage at 17–13 and then moved further ahead into a 27–25 lead. At this point in the match, he complained to the organisers about the television lighting reflecting on the {{cuegloss|object ball|object balls}}; when his complaint was not resolved by the organisers, he approached the tournament sponsors and threatened to withdraw from the competition, after which the lighting was changed. Reardon was ahead 31–29 going into the last day, and won 38–32 to claim his second world title.<ref name="SCENEWC" />{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|pp=73–74}}

Reardon defended his World Championship title in [[1974 World Snooker Championship|1974]], defeating Meadowcroft 15–3, [[Marcus Owen]] 15–11 and Davis 15–3 before beating [[Graham Miles]] 22–12 in the final.<ref name="SCENEWC" /> In a post-match interview, Reardon suggested that he had not played "any better than mediocre" in the final, but that Miles had not created any pressure for him, adding: "I don't feel the elation that I felt at winning last year."{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=74}}<ref>{{cite web|title=1974 Pontin's Festival – Pontins Professional|url=http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk:80/files/Pontins/pontins-74pro.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060421053543/http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk/files/Pontins/pontins-74pro.htm|website=Global Snooker Centre|archive-date=21 April 2006|access-date=29 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> He also won the [[1974 Pontins Professional]], leading 9–4 in the final and winning it 10–9 after Spencer took five consecutive frames to force a decider.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=£1000 for Reardon |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=July 1974 |page=9}}</ref>

In [[1975 Masters (snooker)|1975]], Reardon reached the final of the inaugural [[Masters (snooker)|Masters]] by winning 5–4 on the {{cuegloss|pink ball}} against Williams in the semi-final, but lost the final 8–9 to Spencer on a {{cuegloss|re-spotted black}}.{{sfn|Everton|1986|p=103}} At the [[1975 World Snooker Championship|1975 World Championship]] in Australia, he won a tough quarter-final against Spencer, 19–17, and then eliminated [[Alex Higgins]] 19–14 in the semi-finals to meet Charlton in the final. Reardon was leading 16–8, but Charlton won the following nine frames and then went ahead 28–23 before Reardon pulled back seven of the next eight frames to lead 30–29. Charlton took the 60th frame to tie the match but Reardon won the vital 61st frame to secure the world title for the third successive year.{{sfn|Everton|1986|p=103}} A week later, at [[Pontins]] in [[Prestatyn]], Wales, he retained the [[1975 Pontins Professional|Professional title]] and won the [[Pontins Open|Spring Open title]].{{sfn|Everton|1986|p=103}}

Reardon won the [[1976 Masters (snooker)|Masters]] in January 1976, beating Miles 7–3 in the final.{{sfn|Everton|1986|p=105}} He had earned his place in the final by defeating Pulman 4–1 in the quarter-finals, in a match where the highest break (compiled by Pulman) was only 22, and then Charlton 5–4 in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Reardon wins Benson and Hedges |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=March 1976 |pages=16–17}}</ref>

In [[1976 World Snooker Championship|1976]], Reardon won his fifth world title, defeating [[John Dunning (snooker player)|John Dunning]] 15–7, [[Dennis Taylor]] 15–2 and [[Perrie Mans]] 20–10. During the final in Manchester against Higgins, Reardon complained about the television lighting (which was changed), the quality of the table (to which adjustments were subsequently made), and the referee (who was replaced). Higgins led in the early stages of the match, but Reardon recovered to 15–13 before winning 12 of the next 15 frames for a 27–16 victory.<ref name="SCENEWC" />{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=75}} He claimed the [[1976 Pontins Professional|Pontins Professional]] title for the third consecutive year, defeating Fred Davis 10–9 in a contest described by ''[[Snooker Scene]]''{{'s}} correspondent as the best match of the professional season for "quality, interest and excitement".<ref name="PONTIN76">{{cite magazine |title=Pontin's classic professional final |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=June 1976 |page=24}}</ref> Both players made a century break in the match, Reardon pulling ahead to 8–5 after losing all of the first three frames, but then needing the last two when Davis took the score to 9–8.<ref name="PONTIN76"/> Reardon also won the [[1976 World Professional Match-play Championship]] in Australia, defeating the event's promoter Charlton 31–24 in the final.<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|year=2008|title=World Matchplay|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/matchplay.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228200020/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/matchplay.html|archive-date=28 February 2012|website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=26 July 2021}}</ref>

Reardon reached the final of the [[1977 Masters (snooker)|1977 Masters]], beating Williams 4–1 in the quarter-finals and Miles 5–2 in the semi-finals, but lost the final 6–7 to [[Doug Mountjoy]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Benson and Hedges masters |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=March 1977 |pages=17–19}}</ref> He was also runner-up at the [[1977 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament]], losing 2–5 to Higgins.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}} Reardon's successful run at the World Championship ended in [[World Snooker Championship 1977|1977]] at the [[Crucible Theatre]] in Sheffield,{{efn|This was the first year that the World Championship was held at the Crucible.<ref>{{cite web |title=1977: Spencer sparkles in Sheffield |date=18 April 2003 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/2953737.stm |access-date=23 July 2022 |archive-date=8 April 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040408121005/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/2953737.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>}} when he lost to Spencer in the quarter-finals 6–13; it was his first defeat at the World Championship since his quarter-final loss to Williams in 1972.<ref name="SCENEWC" />

Reardon regained the world title in [[World Snooker Championship 1978|1978]] in Sheffield; after recovering from 2–7 down to beat Mountjoy 13–9 in the last-16 round, he defeated [[Bill Werbeniuk]] 13–6, Charlton 18–14, and Mans 25–18 in the final to lift the trophy for the sixth and final time.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Embassy world professional snooker championship |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=June 1978 |pages=7–17}}</ref> Aged 45 years and 203 days, Reardon was the oldest winner of the World Snooker Championship,<ref name="CTREC">{{cite web|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Records.html |title=Various Snooker Records |last=Turner |first=Chris |year=2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210111343/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Records.html |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive |archive-date=10 February 2013 |access-date=27 July 2021 }}</ref> a record that lasted until 2022 when [[Ronnie O'Sullivan]] won the title aged 46 years and 148 days.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Snooker Championship 2022: Ronnie O'Sullivan claims record-equalling seventh world title |last=Sutcliffe |first=Steve |date=2 May 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/61294622 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=2 May 2022 |url-status=live |archive-date=3 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503143632/https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/61294622}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ronnie O'Sullivan's career statistics and records as he equals Stephen Hendry's tally of seven World Championship titles |url=https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/ronnie-osullivans-career-statistics-and-records-as-he-equals-stephen-hendrys-tally-of-seven-world-championship-titles/200458 |last=Hammer |first=Chris |date=3 May 2022 |access-date=4 May 2022 |website=Sporting Life |url-status=live |archive-date=8 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508225332/https://www.sportinglife.com/snooker/news/ronnie-osullivans-career-statistics-and-records-as-he-equals-stephen-hendrys-tally-of-seven-world-championship-titles/200458}}</ref> Soon after establishing this record, Reardon regained the [[1978 Pontins Professional|Pontins Professional]] title, taking it for the fourth time in five years, defeating Spencer 7–2 in the final.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The professionals |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=June 1978 |pages=20}}</ref> The same year, his old rival from Tredegar, Wilson, won the [[1978 World Amateur Snooker Championship|World Amateur Championship]].{{sfn|Everton|1985|pp=53–55}}

=== Later professional career ===
Toward the end of 1978, Reardon beat [[Patsy Fagan]] 6–1 and Higgins 11–9 to win the one-off "[[1978 Champion of Champions|Champion of Champions]]" event, sponsored by the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' and held at the [[Wembley Conference Centre]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Give him the money! Reardon too good again |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=December 1978 |page=7}}</ref> He also won the [[1979 Forward Chemicals Tournament]].{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}

Reardon regained his ''Pot Black'' title in [[1979 Pot Black|1979]] by defeating Mountjoy 2–1 in the final. This was Reardon's first win since he won the inaugural event in 1969, although he was runner-up in [[1970 Pot Black|1970]], [[1972 Pot Black|1972]] and [[1980 Pot Black|1980]].{{sfn|Perrin |1983|pp=21–22}} At the [[1979 World Snooker Championship|1979 World Championship]], he lost to Dennis Taylor in the quarter-finals, and was eliminated by [[David Taylor (snooker player)|David Taylor]] at the same stage in [[1980 World Snooker Championship|1980]]. He progressed one stage further in [[1981 World Snooker Championship|1981]], beating Spencer 13–11 and Werbeniuk 13–10 before being defeated by Mountjoy in the semi-finals. Mountjoy scored a championship record break of 145 during the match, which he won 16–10.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Embassy world snooker championship |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=June 1981 |pages=10–15}}</ref>

In 1979, Reardon joined with Mountjoy and the reigning World Champion, [[Terry Griffiths]], to win the first [[1979 World Challenge Cup|World Challenge Cup]] for Wales, defeating England (Fred Davis, Spencer and Miles) in the final, 14–3. The same Wales team retained the title in [[1980 World Challenge Cup|1980]].{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=98–99}}

At the [[1982 Highland Masters]], Reardon eliminated [[Steve Davis]] in the semi-finals before winning the event by defeating Spencer 11–4 in the final.<ref name="HM82">{{cite news |title=Reardon on cue |newspaper=Aberdeen Press and Journal |date=19 April 1982 |page=13}}</ref><!--Snooker Scene (June 1982) has "whitewash" against Davis; Aberdeen Press and Journal has the score as 6–1-->He reached the final of the [[1982 World Snooker Championship|1982 World Championship]], losing to Higgins 15–18. En route to the final, he defeated [[Jim Donnelly (snooker player)|Jim Donnelly]] 10–5, [[John Virgo]] 13–8, [[Silvino Francisco]] 13–8, and Charlton, in the semi-finals, by 16–11 after winning five successive frames from 11-all.{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}<ref name="GRAUN15MAY">{{cite news |last=Everton |first=Clive |title=Higgins and Reardon the finalists|date=15 May 1982 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |page=22}}</ref> In the final, Reardon built a 5–3 lead, but was behind 7–10 at the end of the first day. He later levelled the match at 15–15, but Higgins won the last three frames to claim the title.{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pp=38–39}}

For the [[1982–83 snooker season|1982–83 season]], Reardon returned to number one in the world rankings, which at the time was only based on performances at the World Championships over previous years.{{sfn|Morrison|1987|p=108}} He won the [[1982 Professional Players Tournament|Professional Players Tournament]] in October 1982, beating [[Jimmy White]] 10–5 in the final,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Final |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=November 1982 |page=22}}</ref> reached the final of the Benson & Hedges Masters, losing 7–9 to [[Cliff Thorburn]],{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}} and won the [[1983 International Masters]], where he defeated Davis 2–1 in the semi-final group stages, before prevailing 9–6 against White in the final, having trailed 3–5.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Yamaha tunes Reardon for world title attempt – final |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=April 1983 |page=9}}</ref> At the Professional Players Tournament, Reardon set a record as the oldest winner of a ranking tournament at the age of 50 years and 14 days;<ref name="CTREC" /> this record stood for 43 years, until [[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]] won the [[2025 Xi'an Grand Prix]] at the age of 50 years and 206 days.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cartwright |first=Phil |date=2025-10-13 |title=Xi'an Grand Prix 2025: Mark Williams, 50, wins title to become oldest ranking event winner |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/articles/cze65163222o |access-date=2025-10-13 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> He also regained the [[1983 Welsh Professional Championship|Welsh Professional Title]], eliminating Griffiths 9–4 and Mountjoy 9–1 in the semi-final and final respectively.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ray Reardon regains Woodpecker Welsh title |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=April 1983 |pages=12–13}}</ref> At the [[1983 World Snooker Championship|1983 World Championship]], he lost 12–13 in the second round to [[Tony Knowles (snooker player)|Tony Knowles]]; he reached the quarter-finals in [[1984 World Snooker Championship|1984]] but was eliminated 2–13 by [[Kirk Stevens]].{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}

Reardon first wore spectacles in a match at the [[1985 British Open]], which he lost 4–5 to [[Dave Martin (snooker player)|Dave Martin]] after leading 4–1.<ref>{{cite news |last=Friskin |first=Sydney |title=Thorne and White lose |work=The Times |date=20 February 1985 |page=22 }}</ref> He reached the semi-finals of the [[1985 World Snooker Championship|1985 World Championship]] (playing with unassisted vision), where he lost 5–16 to Davis.<ref name="RAYMBE">{{cite magazine |title=Ray Reardon M.B.E. |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=July 1985 |page=3}}</ref>  He lost to [[John Campbell (snooker player)|John Campbell]] in the first round of the [[1986 World Snooker Championship|1986 World Championship]], and to Davis in the second round in [[1987 World Snooker Championship|1987]].{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}

After dropping out of the top-16 rankings in 1987,{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=119–120}} Reardon whitewashed Davis 5–0 in the third round of the 1988 [[British Open (snooker)|British Open]], using his old cue (encouraged to rebuild it by Davis) with which he had won his world titles. In the next round, playing under TV lighting, he suffered a drying of contact lenses (which he started using in 1987) and lost 2–5 to [[David Roe]], having led 2–1.{{sfn|Morrison|1988|p=89}}<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Davis falls at first fence and Hendry canters home |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=April 1988 |pages=9–13}}</ref>

In 1985, Reardon left his wife Sue, with whom he had two children, to live with Carol Covington.<ref name="INC">{{cite news |first1=John |last1=Jackson |first2=Alister |last2=Martin |title=I'm no cheat, says Dracula |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=22 November 1985 |page=3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reardon surprises snooker world |newspaper=Aberdeen Press and Journal |date=22 November 1985 |page=14}}</ref> He told reporters from the ''Daily Mirror'' that Sue had been "fully informed" of his eight-year affair with Covington.<ref name="INC"/> The Reardons divorced in December 1986, and Reardon married Covington in June 1987.<ref>{{cite news| title=Snooker star Ray takes a break – to get married |newspaper=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=6 June 1987 |page=1}}</ref>

==Retirement, death and legacy==
Reardon played his last competitive ranking match in the second round of qualifying for the [[1991 World Snooker Championship|1991 World Championship]], where he was defeated 5–10 by [[Jason Prince]], losing three frames on the final black. Afterwards, Reardon said that he felt "no bitterness" but that he would not be returning. Aged 58 and having slipped to 127th in the provisional rankings, Reardon halted his playing career, mentioning that he had not entered any tournaments for the following season because the qualifying event dates clashed with his exhibition commitments on the holiday camp circuit, but adding that "even if it were feasible, [he] wouldn't play" except in invitation or seniors events.<ref>{{cite magazine| title=The hard road from Preston to Sheffield |magazine= Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=May 1991 |page=5}}</ref> He later played in the [[2000 World Seniors Masters]] where he lost his opening one-frame match 46–69 to Miles.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Smith |first=Terry |title=Senior Superstars |magazine=CueSport Magazine |date=October 2000 |pages=26–28}}</ref> He advised Ronnie O'Sullivan on the way to his [[World Snooker Championship 2004|2004 World Championship]] victory, giving him psychological and tactical help.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/3677833.stm |title='Magic' Ronnie wows Reardon |date=2 May 2004 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=13 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406071231/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/3677833.stm |archive-date=6 April 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

When the [[snooker world rankings]] were introduced in 1976, Reardon was the first to claim the position of world number one, retaining it until [[Snooker world rankings 1981/1982|1981]].<ref name="then and now">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/profile-ray-reardon_sto2189453/story.shtml |title=Profile: Ray Reardon |work=Eurosport |date=2 March 2010 |access-date=28 June 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407151901/https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/profile-ray-reardon_sto2189453/story.shtml |archive-date=7 April 2016}}</ref> His win in the 1982 [[Totesport Grand Prix|Professional Players Tournament]] at 50 contributed to his recapturing the world number one position in the first set of rankings to be calculated on tournaments other than the World Championship.{{sfn|Morrison|1987|p=107}} Reardon and Spencer were the first players to exploit the commercial opportunities made available by the increasing interest in snooker in the early 1970s.{{sfn|Morrison|1988|p=86}} After winning ''Pot Black'' in 1969 and the world title in 1970, Reardon took up offers for exhibition matches and holiday camp exhibition engagements.{{sfn|Morrison|1987|p=108}} Everton and Gordon Burn (1986) have both noted that his peak as a player pre-dated the real boom in snooker that happened in the 1980s.{{sfn|Everton|1985|p=26}}{{sfn|Burn|2008|p=135}}

In January 1976, Reardon was the subject of an episode of the British TV show, ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This is Your Life]]'', the guests including Spencer, Charlton, Higgins, Pulman, Miles, Thorburn, [[Jackie Rea]] and [[Joyce Gardner]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Ray Reardon: this is your life |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=February 1976 |pages=16–17}}</ref> Later that year, he was a guest on ''The [[David Nixon (magician)|David Nixon]] Show'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Grampian|newspaper=Aberdeen Evening Express |date=12 April 1976 |page=2}}</ref> and in 1979 he was a guest on ''[[Parkinson (TV series)|Parkinson]]'',<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC1 |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=13 January 1979 |page=12}}</ref> ''[[A Question of Sport]]'',<ref>{{cite web |title=A Question of Sport|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1cc566cc91994dafaa56aac3d1a6cc4d |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027094215/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1cc566cc91994dafaa56aac3d1a6cc4d |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 October 2014 |website=Programme Index |date=12 February 1979 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> and ''[[The Paul Daniels Magic Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Paul Daniels Magic Show|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/56b3effee6944fc19a80a59fd07795f7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017182314/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/56b3effee6944fc19a80a59fd07795f7 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2014 |website=Programme Index |date=30 June 1979 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> His later guest appearances included ''[[Punchlines]]'' (1981),<ref>{{cite news |title=Grampian|newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=5 December 1981 |page=16}}</ref> ''[[Saturday Superstore]]'' (1984),<ref>{{cite web |title=Saturday Superstore |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/579e3338f3e84474a9321b13d4ed4bfd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715095018/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/579e3338f3e84474a9321b13d4ed4bfd |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2022 |website=Programme Index |date=21 January 1984 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> ''[[The Rod and Emu Show]]'' (1984),<ref>{{cite web |title=The Rod and Emu Show |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a983f7a245b04634b917212b3c675192 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715095019/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a983f7a245b04634b917212b3c675192 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2022 |website=Programme Index |date=10 March 1984 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> ''[[Sorry! (TV series)|Sorry!]]'' (1985),<ref>{{cite web |title=Sorry! |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f4732a7744d34362b99384944c6304d2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715094913/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f4732a7744d34362b99384944c6304d2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2022 |website=Programme Index |date=26 May 1985 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> and ''[[The Little and Large Show]]'' (1987).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Little and Large Show |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/08c559a8c374473e9d4a39c42ed4baa5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715094914/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/08c559a8c374473e9d4a39c42ed4baa5 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2022 |website=Programme Index |date=21 February 1987 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> He appeared on the snooker-themed game show ''[[Big Break]]'' several times.<ref>{{cite web |title=Results 1 to 20 of 26 for "Big Break" "Ray Reardon" |url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=first&q=%22Big+Break%22+%22Ray+Reardon%22+#top |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715095020/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=first&q=%22Big+Break%22+%22Ray+Reardon%22+#top |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2022 |website=Programme Index |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> [[Ian Wooldridge]] wrote and presented a ''Ray Reardon'' special on [[BBC2]] in 1984,<ref>{{cite news |title=Ray, the pitman in white gloves! |newspaper=Nottingham Evening Post |date=19 April 1984 |page=2}}</ref> and the same channel broadcast ''Ray Reardon at 80'' in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ray Reardon at 80|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b01glr17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715095022/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b01glr17 |url-status=dead |archive-date=15 July 2022 |website=Programme Index |date=29 April 2012 |publisher=BBC |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref> Reardon was a castaway on [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'' in 1979, and chose a set of golf clubs and balls as his luxury item.<ref>{{cite web |title=Desert Island Discs: Ray Reardon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mxm9 |website=BBC |access-date=15 July 2022}}</ref>

His prominent [[Canine tooth|eye teeth]] and [[widow's peak]] led to him being nicknamed "[[Dracula]]";<ref>{{cite news |last=Wills |first=Colin |title='Dracula' loses the first bite |work=Sunday Mirror |date=16 May 1982 |page=48}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Reardon and Spencer – a great rivalry |url=https://wst.tv/reardon-and-spencer-a-great-rivalry/ |website=World Snooker |date=19 May 2020 |access-date=27 July 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727222629/https://wst.tv/reardon-and-spencer-a-great-rivalry/}}</ref> the sobriquet was first used by [[Paul Daniels]] after Reardon appeared on one of his television shows.{{sfn|Morrison|1988|p=87}} Everton has described Reardon in his early career as a "deadly long potter", and praised his "nerve with which he identifies and seizes frame winning openings."<ref name="RAYMBE" /> [[Jack Karnehm]] wrote that Reardon achieved "complete and utter dominance of the game" by 1976,{{sfn|Karnehm|1982|p=62}} and "had a determination and will to win unequalled since the heyday of Joe Davis."{{sfn|Karnehm|1982|p=64}} Williams and Gadsby described Reardon as "without doubt the most successful snooker player of the 1970s", and claimed "he set new standards for mental fortitude" in the game.{{sfn|Williams|Gadsby|2005|p=79}}

After seeing Reardon play at Pontins in 1975, Steve Davis incorporated elements that he had observed in Reardon's game into his own, including a pause before hitting the cue ball, and his "approach" to the shot. Burn wrote "Ray Reardon behaved as if he thought he was special. And Steve{{emdash}}with a little encouragement from [his manager] Barry [Hearn]{{emdash}}decided that was how he was going to behave from now on."{{sfn|Burn|2008|pp=138–139}} Davis admitted that he had lost some respect for Reardon when, as a new professional, he  experienced Reardon asking for the pack of {{cuegloss|red balls}} to be {{cuegloss|rerack|re-racked}} six times, claiming that the referee had not placed them correctly. Unsettled by what he felt was [[gamesmanship]] on Reardon's part, Davis had lost the match 0–4.{{sfn|Davis|2015|pp=93–94}} Spencer stated in his autobiography that he was never friendly with Reardon, and suggested that he was "the sort of person who could laugh 24 hours a day if it was to his advantage".{{sfn|Spencer|2006|pp=106–107}}

Reardon was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[1985 Birthday Honours]] for services to snooker.<ref name="RAYMBE" /><ref>United Kingdom list: {{London Gazette |date=14 June 1985 |supp=y |issue=50154 |pages=15  }}</ref> He resided in Devon,<ref name="WST profile">{{cite web |title=Ray Reardon |url=https://wst.tv/players/ray-reardon/ |website=World Snooker |access-date=27 July 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027112811/https://wst.tv/players/ray-reardon/}}</ref> and was the president of the [[Country club#Golf club|golf club]] in [[Churston]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.churstongolf.com/Clubhouse.html |title=A message from the Club's President Ray Reardon |website=churstongolf.com |access-date=25 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905224615/http://www.churstongolf.com/Clubhouse.html#:~:text=A%20message%20from%20the%20Club’s%20President%20Ray%20Reardon |archive-date=5 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a position that he had held since 2001,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=David |date=2020-08-28 |title=Why golf is now snooker champion Ray Reardon's game of choice |url=https://www.torbayweekly.co.uk/news/local-news/1219845/why-golf-is-now-snooker-champion-ray-reardons-game-of-choice.html |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=Torbay Weekly |language=en}}</ref> having been a member since the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.churstongolf.com |title=Churston Golf Club |website=churstongolf.com |access-date=27 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040909231713/http://churstongolf.com/ |archive-date=9 September 2004}}</ref>  He made a playing appearance at a Snooker Legends evening in [[Plymouth]] in July 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://southwestshows.co.uk/2010/06/ray-reardon-to-join-snooker-legends-at-plymouth-pavilions-news/ |title=Ray Reardon to join Snooker Legends at Plymouth Pavilions (news) |date=9 June 2010 |website=southwestshows.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616053331/http://southwestshows.co.uk/2010/06/ray-reardon-to-join-snooker-legends-at-plymouth-pavilions-news/ |archive-date=16 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Welsh Open (snooker)|Welsh Open]] trophy was renamed the ''Ray Reardon Trophy'' in his honour, starting with the [[2017 Welsh Open (snooker)|2017 edition]] of the tournament.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/37495257|title=Welsh Open Snooker trophy named after legend Ray Reardon|date=28 September 2016|work=BBC Sport|access-date=15 August 2020|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407174308/https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/37495257|url-status=live}}</ref>

Reardon died of cancer on 19 July 2024, at the age of 91.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 July 2024 |title=Snooker legend Ray Reardon dies |url=https://news.sky.com/story/snooker-legend-ray-reardon-dies-13181776 |access-date=20 July 2024 |website=Sky News}}</ref> Three-time world champion [[Mark Williams (snooker player)|Mark Williams]] led tributes to his fellow Welshman, describing Reardon as "one of the best sportspeople ever from Wales and the best snooker player."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/articles/cjewjqnqwv4o|title=Six-time world snooker champion Reardon dies aged 91|date=20 July 2024 |publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=20 July 2024}}</ref>

==Performance and rankings timeline==
{| class="wikitable"  style="font-size:85%;"
! Tournament
! [[1968–69 snooker season|1968/<br />69]]
! [[1969–70 snooker season|1969/<br />70]]
! [[1970–71 snooker season|1970/<br />71]]
! [[1971–72 snooker season|1971/<br />72]]
! [[1972–73 snooker season|1972/<br />73]]
! [[1973–74 snooker season|1973/<br />74]]
! [[1974–75 snooker season|1974/<br />75]]
! [[1975–76 snooker season|1975/<br />76]]
! [[1976–77 snooker season|1976/<br />77]]
! [[1977–78 snooker season|1977/<br />78]]
! [[1978–79 snooker season|1978/<br />79]]
! [[1979–80 snooker season|1979/<br />80]]
! [[1980–81 snooker season|1980/<br />81]]
! [[1981–82 snooker season|1981/<br />82]]
! [[1982–83 snooker season|1982/<br />83]]
! [[1983–84 snooker season|1983/<br />84]]
! [[1984–85 snooker season|1984/<br />85]]
! [[1985–86 snooker season|1985/<br />86]]
! [[1986–87 snooker season|1986/<br />87]]
! [[1987–88 snooker season|1987/<br />88]]
! [[1988–89 snooker season|1988/<br />89]]
! [[1989–90 snooker season|1989/<br />90]]
! [[1990–91 snooker season|1990/<br />91]]
! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Snooker world rankings|Ranking]]
| align="center" colspan="8" style="color:#555555;"|No ranking system
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1976/1977|1]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1977/1978|1]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1978/1979|1]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1979/1980|1]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1980/1981|1]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1981/1982|4]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1982/1983|1]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1983/1984|2]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1984/1985|5]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1985/1986|6]]
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1986/1987|15]]<!--Rankings to this year per Hayton & Dee 2004-->
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1987/1988|38]]<!---per ''Snooker Scene'' June 1988-->
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1988/1989|40]]<!---per ''Snooker Scene'' June 1988-->
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1989/1990|54]]<!---per ''Snooker Scene'' June 1990-->
| align="center" |[[Snooker world rankings 1990/1991|74]]<!---per ''Snooker Scene'' June 1990-->
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=119–120}}<ref name="88R">{{cite magazine |title=WPBSA world rankings |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=June 1988 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |pages=24–25 }}</ref><ref name="90R">{{cite magazine |title=The new world rankings |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=June 1990 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |page=20 }}</ref>
|-
| colspan="25" | '''Ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Open (snooker)|Grand Prix]]{{efn|The event was also called the Professional Players Tournament (1982/1983–1983/1984).<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Professional Players Tournament, Grand Prix, LG Cup|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/GP.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155938/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/GP.html|archive-date=16 February 2012|website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="14"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1982 Professional Players Tournament|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 Professional Players Tournament|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 Grand Prix (snooker)|3R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 Grand Prix (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Grand Prix (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 Grand Prix (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Thailand Masters|Asian Open]]{{efn|name="THAI"|The event was also called the Thailand Masters (1983/1984–1986/1987 & 1991/1992) and the Asian Open (1989/1990–1992/1993).<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Thailand Open, Thailand Classic, Thailand Masters|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Thai.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155548/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Thai.html|archive-date=16 February 2012|website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="15"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Dubai Classic]]{{efn|name="DUB"|The event was also called the Dubai Masters (1988/1989).<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Dubai Classic, Dubai Masters, Bahrain Snooker Championship|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mideast.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107153823/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mideast.html|archive-date=7 January 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive }}</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="20"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[UK Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1984 UK Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 UK Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 UK Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 UK Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 UK Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Classic (snooker)|Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 Classic (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 Classic (snooker)|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[British Open (snooker)|British Open]]{{efn|name="BO"|The event was also called the British Gold Cup (1979/1980), Yamaha Organs Trophy (1980/1981) and International Masters (1981/1982–1983/1984).<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=British Open Including British Gold Cup, Yamaha Organs Trophy and Yamaha International Masters|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/brit.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155129/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/brit.html|archive-date=16 February 2012|website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 British Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 British Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 British Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 British Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 British Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[European Open (snooker)|European Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="20"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1989 European Open (snooker)|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Non-Ranking Event
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1974 World Snooker Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1975 World Snooker Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1976 World Snooker Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1977 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1978 World Snooker Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1979 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1980 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1981 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1982 World Snooker Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1984 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1985 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 World Snooker Championship|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 World Snooker Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|LQ
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
| colspan="25" | '''Non-ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Scottish Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1981 Scottish Masters|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1982 Scottish Masters|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1990 European Grand Masters|European Grand Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="22"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1990 European Grand Masters|F]]
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Not stated--> |title=Clark wins in Monte Carlo |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=February 1991 |page=31}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Masters (snooker)|The Masters]]
|align="center" colspan="6" style="color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1975 Masters (snooker)|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1976 Masters (snooker)|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1977 Masters (snooker)|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1978 Masters (snooker)|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1979 Masters (snooker)|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1980 Masters (snooker)|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1981 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1982 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1983 Masters (snooker)|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1984 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 Masters (snooker)|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 Masters (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Irish Masters]]{{efn|The event was also called the Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament (1974/1975–1976/1977).<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Irish Masters|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155735/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/irishmast.html|archive-date=16 February 2012|website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|[[1977 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1978 Irish Masters|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|[[1979 Irish Masters|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 Irish Masters|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|[[1981 Irish Masters|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1982 Irish Masters|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|[[1983 Irish Masters|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1984 Irish Masters|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 Irish Masters|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 Irish Masters|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | {{nowrap|[[Welsh Professional Championship]]}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|'''W'''
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|[[1980 Welsh Professional Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1981 Welsh Professional Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1982 Welsh Professional Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1983 Welsh Professional Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1984 Welsh Professional Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1985 Welsh Professional Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1986 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1987 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1988 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1989 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1990 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1991 Welsh Professional Championship|QF]]
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1984 Professional Snooker League|Professional Snooker League]]{{efn|The event was later called the [[Premier League Snooker|Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Chris|title=Premier/Matchroom League, Matchroom Championship League|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/league.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216154905/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/league.html|archive-date=16 February 2012 |website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive }}</ref>}}
| colspan="15" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 Professional Snooker League|RR]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" |{{sfn|Everton|1984|pp=91–92}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Pontins Professional]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1974 Pontins Professional|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1975 Pontins Professional|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1976 Pontins Professional|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1977 Pontins Professional|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1978 Pontins Professional|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1979 Pontins Professional|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1980 Pontins Professional|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1981 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1982 Pontins Professional|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1983 Pontins Professional|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1984 Pontins Professional|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1985 Pontins Professional|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1986 Pontins Professional|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
| colspan="25" | '''Former ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Canadian Masters (snooker)|Canadian Masters]]{{efn|name="CANO"|The event was also called the Canadian Open (1978/1979–1980/1981).<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/canmast.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155138/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/canmast.html|archivedate=16 February 2012|title=Canadian Masters|website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Non-Ranking
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Non-Ranking
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 Canadian Masters|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Scottish Open (snooker)|International Open]]{{efn|name="GOYA"|The event was also called the Goya Matchroom Trophy (1985/1986).<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=International Open, Goya Matchroom Trophy|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/int.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155037/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/int.html|archive-date=16 February 2012|website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive}}</ref>}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NR
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1982 International Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 International Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 International Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1985 Matchroom Trophy|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1986 International Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1987 International Open|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1988 International Open|1R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
| colspan="25" | '''Former non-ranking tournaments'''
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Stratford Professional]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="18"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |title=Owen defeats title holder |work=Sport Argus |date=5 September 1970 |page=11}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Park Drive 2000]] (Spring)
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[Park Drive 2000#1972 (Spring)|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="19"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |{{sfn|Everton|1981|p=90}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Park Drive 2000]] (Autumn)
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[Park Drive 2000#1971 (October)|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[Park Drive 2000#1972 (Autumn)|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="18"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |{{sfn|Everton|1981|p=90}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Men of the Midlands]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="3"|Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1972 Men of the Midlands|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1973 Men of the Midlands|F]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="18"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Higgins too hot for Reardon |work=Belfast Telegraph |location=Belfast |date=7 March 1972 |page=19 }}<br />{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Higgins takes Men of Midlands title |work=Birmingham Daily Post |location=Birmingham |date=6 February 1973 |page=25 }}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1969 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1970 World Snooker Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1971 World Snooker Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1972 World Snooker Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1973 World Snooker Championship|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="18"|Ranking Event
| align="center" |<ref name="SCENEWC" />
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1974 World Masters|World Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1974 World Masters|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="16"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |title=Reardon is beaten in snooker |work=The Canberra Times |location=Canberra|date=5 July 1974 |page=18}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Norwich Union Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1974 Norwich Union Open|F]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="16"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1974 Watney Open|Watney Open]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1974 Watney Open|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="16"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1976 Canadian Club Masters|Canadian Club Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1976 Canadian Club Masters|F]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="15"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Higgins beats Reardon to win Canadian Club masters |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=July 1976 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |pages=16–17}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[World Professional Match-play Championship|World Matchplay Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1976 World Professional Match-play Championship|F]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="14"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1977 Dry Blackthorn Cup|Dry Blackthorn Cup]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1977 Dry Blackthorn Cup|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Morrison|1987|p=32}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1979 Holsten Lager International|Holsten Lager International]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1979 Holsten Lager International|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--No byline-->|title=Spencer first in Holsten lager international|magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=February 1979 |pages=12–15}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1979 Forward Chemicals Tournament|Forward Chemicals Tournament]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1979 Forward Chemicals Tournament|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Golden Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1978 Golden Masters|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1979 Golden Masters|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="12"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web|title=Other Non-Ranking and Invitation Events|url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/misc1.html#McEw|last=Turner|first=Chris|year=2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216160510/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/misc1.html#McEw|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 February 2012|website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1979 Kronenbrau 1308 Classic|Kronenbrau 1308 Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#D8BFD8;"|[[1979 Kronenbrau 1308 Classic|F]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Morrison|1989|p=97}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Champion of Champions (snooker)|Champion of Champions]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1978 Champion of Champions|'''W''']]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1980 Champion of Champions|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--No byline-->|title=Champion of champions |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=November 1980 |pages=6–11}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Scottish Open (snooker)|International Open]]{{efn|name="GOYA"}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 International Open|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Ranking Event
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|NH
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1982 Highland Masters|Highland Masters]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="13"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1982 Highland Masters|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" |<ref name="HM82"/>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Classic (snooker)|Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1980 Classic (1980/1981)|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1982 Classic (snooker)|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1983 Classic (snooker)|1R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="8"|Ranking Event
| align="center" |{{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Results: snooker |work=The Guardian |date=3 December 1980 |page=20}}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Tolly Cobbold Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="10"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|[[1979 Tolly Cobbold Classic|F]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1983 Tolly Cobbold Classic|QF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}{{sfn|Everton|1985|pp=73–74}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[UK Championship]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="9"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1977 UK Championship|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1978 UK Championship|2R]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |[[1980 UK Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1981 UK Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;" |[[1982 UK Championship|SF]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1983 UK Championship|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Ranking Event
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[British Open (snooker)|British Open]]{{efn|name="BO"}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="11"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:thistle;"|[[1980 British Gold Cup|F]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1981 Yamaha Organs Trophy|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1982 International Masters|RR]]
| style="text-align:center; background:#0f0;"|[[1983 International Masters|'''W''']]
| style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"|[[1984 International Masters|2R]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="7"|Ranking Event
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1985 Kit Kat Break for World Champions|KitKat Break for World Champions]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="17"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffebcd;"|[[1985 Kit Kat Break for World Champions|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[1986 Belgian Classic|Belgian Classic]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="17"|Tournament Not Held
|align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|[[1986 Belgian Classic|QF]]
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="5"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|-
|style="background:#EFEFEF;" | [[Canadian Masters (snooker)|Canadian Masters]]{{efn|name="CANO"}}
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="6"|Tournament Not Held
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1977 Canadian Open|SF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|Tournament Not Held
| style="text-align:center; background:yellow;"|[[1985 Canadian Masters|SF]]
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|A
| align="center" style="color:#555555;"|R
| style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="2"|Not Held
| align="center" | {{sfn|Hayton|Dee|2004|pp=834–836}}
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:78%;"
! colspan="6"|Performance Table Legend
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|LQ
| lost in the qualifying draw
| align="center" style="background:#afeeee;"|#R
| lost in the early rounds of the tournament<br />(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
| align="center" style="background:#ffebcd;"|QF
| lost in the quarter-finals
|-
| align="center" style="background:yellow;"|SF
| lost in the semi-finals
| align="center" style="background:#D8BFD8;"|F
| lost in the final
| align="center" style="background:#00ff00;"|'''W'''
| won the tournament
|-
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|DNQ
| did not qualify for the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|A
| did not participate in the tournament
| align="center" style="color:#555555;" width="30"|??
| no reliable source available
|}
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
|-
|  style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NH / Not Held || means an event was not held.
|-
|  style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|NR / Non-Ranking Event || means an event is/was no longer a ranking event.
|-
|  style="text-align:center; color:#555555;" colspan="4"|R / Ranking Event || means an event is/was a ranking event.
|}

==Career finals==
Sources for the ranking and non-ranking final results can be found in the Performance timeline section above.

===Ranking finals: 6 (5 titles)===
{| class="wikitable"
! Legend
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
|  World Championship (4–1)
|- bgcolor=
|  Other (1–0)
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Ranking tournament finals
|-
!Scope="col"|Outcome
!Scope="col"|No.
!Scope="col"|Year
!Scope="col"|Championship
!Scope="col"|Opponent in the final
!Scope="col"|Score
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1.
| [[1974 World Snooker Championship|1974]]
| [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Miles, Graham" |{{flagathlete|[[Graham Miles]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|22–12
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 2.
| [[1975 World Snooker Championship|1975]]
| [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]] <small>(4)</small>
| data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" |{{flagathlete|[[Eddie Charlton]]|AUS}}
| align="center"|31–30
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 3.
| [[1976 World Snooker Championship|1976]]
| [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]] <small>(5)</small>
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center"|27–16
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 4.
| [[1978 World Snooker Championship|1978]]
| [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]] <small>(6)</small>
| data-sort-value="Mans, Perrie" |{{flagathlete|[[Perrie Mans]]|SAF|1928}}
| align="center"|25–18
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| [[1982 World Snooker Championship|1982]]
| [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center"|15–18
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 5.
| [[1982 Professional Players Tournament|1982]]
| [[Grand Prix (snooker)|Professional Players Tournament]]
| data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" |{{flagathlete|[[Jimmy White]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|10–5
|}

===Non-ranking finals: 47 (22 titles)===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Legend
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
|  World Championship (2–0){{efn|The [[World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association]] implemented the ranking system following the 1976 World Snooker Championship. In the initial list, points were awarded based on performances in the 1974, 1975 and 1976 World Championships.<ref>{{cite web|last=Turner|first=Chris|title=Historical World Rankings 1975/76 to 1989/90 |url=http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/HistoricRank1.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608214119/http://www.cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/HistoricRank1.html |archivedate=8 June 2012|website=Chris Turner's Snooker Archive|access-date=23 July 2021}}</ref>}}
|- bgcolor="ffffcc"
|  The Masters (1–3)
|-
|  Other (19–22)
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!scope="col"|Outcome
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|Championship
!scope="col"|Opponent in the final
!scope="col"|Score
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1.
| 1967
| South African Challenge
| {{Flagicon|ZAF|1928}} [[Jimmy van Rensberg]]
| align="center"|2–1
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 2.
| [[1969 Pot Black|1969]]
| [[Pot Black]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|1–0
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| [[1970 Pot Black|1970]]
| [[Pot Black]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|0–1
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 3.
| [[1970 World Snooker Championship|1970]]
| [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Pulman, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Pulman]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|37–33
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 2.
| 1970
| [[Stratford Professional]]
| data-sort-value="Owen, Gary" |{{flagathlete|[[Gary Owen (snooker player)|Gary Owen]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|4–6
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 4.
| 1971
| [[1971 Park Drive 600|Park Drive 600]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|4–0
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 5.
| [[Park Drive 2000#1971 (October)|1971]]
| [[Park Drive 2000]] – Autumn
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|4–3
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 3.
| [[1972 Pot Black|1972]]
| [[Pot Black]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" |{{flagathlete|[[Eddie Charlton]]|AUS}}
| align="center"|0–1
|-
| style="background:#98FB98;"|Winner
| 6.
| 1972
|  Ryde Tournament
| {{Flagicon|NIR}} {{sortname|Alex|Higgins}}
| align="center"|{{sort|04–01|4–1}}
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 4.
| [[1973 Men of the Midlands|1973]]
| [[Men of the Midlands]]
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center"|3–5
|- bgcolor="#e5d1cb"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 7.
| [[1973 World Snooker Championship|1973]]
| [[World Snooker Championship|World Championship]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" |{{flagathlete|[[Eddie Charlton]]|AUS}}
| align="center"|38–32
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 8.
| 1973
| [[Castle Snooker Club|Castle Professional – Event 3]]
| data-sort-value="Pulman, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Pulman]]|ENG}} 
| align="center"|Round–Robin
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 9.
| [[1974 Pontins Professional|1974]]
| [[Pontins Professional]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|10–9
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 5.
| [[1974 Norwich Union Open|1974]]
| [[Norwich Union Open]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|9–10
|- bgcolor="ffffcc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 6.
| [[1975 Masters (snooker)|1975]]
| [[Masters (snooker)|The Masters]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|8–9
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 10.
| [[1975 Pontins Professional|1975]]
| [[Pontins Professional]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|10–4
|- bgcolor="ffffcc"
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 11.
| [[1976 Masters (snooker)|1976]]
| [[Masters (snooker)|The Masters]]
| data-sort-value="Miles, Graham" |{{flagathlete|[[Graham Miles]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|7–3
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 12.
| [[1976 Pontins Professional|1976]]
| [[Pontins Professional]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Fred" |{{flagathlete|[[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|10–9
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 7.
| [[1976 Canadian Club Masters|1976]]
| [[1976 Canadian Club Masters|Canadian Club Masters]]
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center"|4–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 8.
| [[1976 World Professional Match-play Championship|1976]]
| {{nowrap|[[World Professional Match-play Championship]]}}
| data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" |{{flagathlete|[[Eddie Charlton]]|AUS}}
| align="center"|24–31
|- bgcolor="ffffcc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 9.
| [[1977 Masters (snooker)|1977]]
| [[Masters (snooker)|The Masters]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|[[Doug Mountjoy]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|6–7
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 13.
| 1977
| [[Welsh Professional Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|[[Doug Mountjoy]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|12–8
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up 
| 10.
| [[1977 Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament|1977]]
| [[Irish Masters|Benson & Hedges Ireland Tournament]]
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center"| 3–5
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 14.
| [[1978 Pontins Professional|1978]]
| [[Pontins Professional]] <small>(4)</small>
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|7–2
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 11.
| [[1978 Golden Masters|1978]]
| [[Golden Masters]]
| data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|[[Doug Mountjoy]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|2–4
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 15.
| [[1978 Champion of Champions|1978]]
| [[Champion of Champions (snooker)|Champion of Champions]]
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center"|11–9
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 16.
| [[1978 Pot Black|1978]]
| [[Pot Black]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|[[Doug Mountjoy]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|2–1
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 17.
| [[1979 Forward Chemicals Tournament|1979]]
| [[1979 Forward Chemicals Tournament|Forward Chemicals Tournament]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|9–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 12.
| [[1979 Irish Masters|1979]]
| [[Irish Masters]]
| data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|[[Doug Mountjoy]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|5–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 13.
| [[1979 Tolly Cobbold Classic|1979]]
| [[Tolly Cobbold Classic]]
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center"|4–5
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 18.
| [[1979 Golden Masters|1979]]
| [[Golden Masters]]
| data-sort-value="Miles, Graham" |{{flagathlete|[[Graham Miles]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|4–2
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 14.
| [[1979 Kronenbrau 1308 Classic|1979]]
| [[1979 Kronenbrau 1308 Classic|Kronenbrau 1308 Classic]]
| data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" |{{flagathlete|[[Eddie Charlton]]|AUS}}
| align="center"|4–7
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 15.
| [[1980 Pot Black|1980]]
| [[Pot Black]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Charlton, Eddie" |{{flagathlete|[[Eddie Charlton]]|AUS}}
| align="center"|1–2
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 16.
| [[1980 Welsh Professional Championship|1980]]
| [[Welsh Professional Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|[[Doug Mountjoy]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|6–9
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 17.
| [[1980 British Gold Cup|1980]]
| [[British Open (snooker)|British Gold Cup]]
| data-sort-value="Higgins, Alex" |{{flagathlete|[[Alex Higgins]]|NIR}}
| align="center"|1–5
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 18.
| [[1980 Pontins Professional|1980]]
| [[Pontins Professional]]
| data-sort-value="Virgo, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Virgo]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|6–9
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 19.
| [[1981 Welsh Professional Championship|1981]]
| [[Welsh Professional Championship]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Wilson, Cliff" |{{flagathlete|[[Cliff Wilson]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|9–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 19.
| [[1981 Irish Masters|1981]]
| [[Irish Masters]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Griffiths, Terry" |{{flagathlete|[[Terry Griffiths]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|7–9
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 20.
| [[1982 Highland Masters|1982]]
| [[1982 Highland Masters|Highland Masters]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|11–4
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 20.
| [[1982 Pontins Professional|1982]]
| [[Pontins Professional]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|[[Steve Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|4–9
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 21.
| [[1983 Pot Black|1983]]
| [[Pot Black]] <small>(4)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|[[Steve Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|0–2
|- bgcolor="ffffcc"
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 22.
| [[1983 Masters (snooker)|1983]]
| [[Masters (snooker)|The Masters]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Thorburn, Cliff" |{{flagathlete|[[Cliff Thorburn]]|CAN}}
| align="center"|7–9
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 21.
| [[1983 Welsh Professional Championship|1983]]
| [[Welsh Professional Championship]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|[[Doug Mountjoy]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|9–1
|-
| style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 22.
| [[1983 International Masters|1983]]
| [[British Open (snooker)|International Masters]]
| data-sort-value="White, Jimmy" |{{flagathlete|[[Jimmy White]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|9–6
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 23.
| [[1983 Irish Masters|1983]]
| [[Irish Masters]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|[[Steve Davis]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|2–9
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 24.
| [[1983 Pontins Professional|1983]]
| [[Pontins Professional]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Mountjoy, Doug" |{{flagathlete|[[Doug Mountjoy]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|7–9
|-
| style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up 
| 25.
| [[1990 European Grand Masters|1990]] 
| European Grand Masters
| data-sort-value="Clark, Martin" |{{flagathlete|[[Martin Clark (snooker player)|Martin Clark]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|2–4
|}

===Team finals: 6 (3 titles)===
{| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Outcome
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|Championship
!scope="col"|Team/partner
!scope="col"|Opponent(s) in the final
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col" class=unsortable |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1.
| [[1975 Ladbroke International (snooker)|1975]]
| [[1975 Ladbroke International (snooker)|Ladbroke International]]
| Rest of the World{{efn|"Rest of the World" team: Reardon, [[Cliff Thorburn]] (Canada), [[Eddie Charlton]] (Australia), [[Alex Higgins]] and [[Jackie Rea]] (both Northern Ireland)<ref name="LINT">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=ITV London |work=Reading Evening Post |location=Reading|date=5 April 1975 |page=2 }}</ref>}}
| {{flagcountry|ENG}}{{efn|England team: [[Rex Williams]], [[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]], [[Graham Miles]], [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]], [[John Pulman]]<ref name="LINT"/>}}
| align="center"|Cumulative score
| align="center"|{{sfn|Everton|1976|pp=6–7}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 2.
| [[1979 World Challenge Cup|1979]]
| [[World Cup (snooker)|World Challenge Cup]]
| {{flagcountry|WAL}}{{efn|Wales team: Reardon, [[Terry Griffiths]], [[Doug Mountjoy]]<ref name="WCC79">{{cite magazine |title=A successful experiment |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=December 1980 |pages=3–9}}</ref>}}
| {{flagcountry|ENG}}{{efn|England team: [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]], [[Fred Davis (snooker player)|Fred Davis]], [[Graham Miles]]<ref name="WCC79"/>}}
| align="center"|14–3
|align="center" | {{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=98–99}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 3.
| [[1980 World Challenge Cup|1980]]
| [[World Cup (snooker)|World Challenge Cup]] <small>(2)</small>
| {{flagcountry|WAL}}{{efn|Wales team: Reardon, [[Terry Griffiths]], [[Doug Mountjoy]]{{sfn|Morrison|1987|page=143}}}}
| {{flagcountry|CAN}}{{efn|Canada team: [[Cliff Thorburn]], [[Bill Werbeniuk]], [[Kirk Stevens]]{{sfn|Morrison|1987|page=143}}}}
| align="center"|8–5
|align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1987|page=143}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| [[1981 World Team Classic|1981]]
| [[World Cup (snooker)|World Team Classic]]
| {{flagcountry|WAL}}{{efn|Wales team: Reardon, [[Terry Griffiths]], [[Doug Mountjoy]]<ref name="WTC81">{{cite magazine |title=World Team Classic |magazine=Snooker Scene |date=December 1981 |pages=5–11}}</ref>}}
| {{flagcountry|ENG}}{{efn|England team: [[Steve Davis]], [[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]], [[David Taylor (snooker player)|David Taylor]]<ref name="WTC81"/>}}
| align="center"|3–4
|align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=98–99}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 2.
| [[1983 World Team Classic|1983]]
| [[World Cup (snooker)|World Team Classic]] <small>(2)</small>
| {{flagcountry|WAL}}{{efn|Wales team: Reardon, [[Terry Griffiths]], [[Doug Mountjoy]]<ref name="83WTCF">{{cite magazine |title=England regain title |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |location=Birmingham |date=December 1983 |page=14}}</ref>}}
| {{flagcountry|ENG}}{{efn|England team: [[Steve Davis]], [[Tony Knowles (snooker player)|Tony Knowles]], [[Tony Meo]]<ref name="83WTCF"/>}}
| align="center"|2–4
|align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1989|pages=98–99}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 3.
| [[1985 World Doubles Championship|1985]]
| [[World Doubles Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Jones, Tony" |{{flagathlete|[[Tony Jones (snooker player)|Tony Jones]]|ENG}}
| data-sort-value="Davis, Steve" |{{flagathlete|[[Steve Davis]]|ENG}}, {{flagathlete|[[Tony Meo]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|5–12
| align="center"|{{sfn|Hale|1987|pp=226–227}}
|}

===Pro-am finals: 3 (1 title)===
{| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Outcome
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|Championship
!scope="col"|Opponent in the final
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col" class=unsortable |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1.
| 1975
| [[Pontins Open#Pontins Spring Open|Pontins Spring Open]]
| data-sort-value="Virgo, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Virgo]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|7–1
| align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1987|page=100}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| 1982
| [[Pontins Open#Pontins Spring Open|Pontins Spring Open]]
| data-sort-value="Parrott, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Parrott]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|4–7
| align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1987|page=100}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 2.
| 1983
| [[Pontins Open#Pontins Spring Open|Pontins Spring Open]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Griffiths, Terry" |{{flagathlete|[[Terry Griffiths]]|WAL}}
| align="center"|3–7
| align="center" |{{sfn|Morrison|1987|page=100}}
|}

===Amateur finals: 8 (7 titles)===
{| class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Outcome
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Year
!scope="col"|Championship
!scope="col"|Opponent in the final
!scope="col" |Score
!scope="col" class=unsortable |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 1.
| 1950
| [[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Ford, John" |{{flagathlete|John Ford|WAL}}
|  align="center" |5–3
|align="center"|<ref name="WAM50">{{cite news |title=Snooker: Tredegar boy is champion |work=Merthyr Express |date=11 February 1950 |page=16}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 2.
| 1951
| [[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]] <small>(2)</small>
| data-sort-value="Smith, Richie" | {{flagathlete|Richie Smith|WAL}}
| align="center" |5–2
| align="center" |<ref name="WAM51">{{cite news |title=Ray Reardon's record |work=Merthyr Express |date=10 March 1951 |page=15}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 3.
| 1952
| [[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]] <small>(3)</small>
| data-sort-value="Ford, John" |{{flagathlete|John Ford|WAL}}
| align="center"|5–3
| align="center" |<ref name="WELSHS" />
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 4.
| 1953
| [[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]] <small>(4)</small>
| data-sort-value="Kemp, Aubrey" | {{flagathlete|Aubrey Kemp|WAL}}
| align="center"|5–3
| align="center" |<ref name="WELSHS" />
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 5.
| 1954
| [[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]] <small>(5)</small>
| data-sort-value="Ford, John"| {{flagathlete|John Ford|WAL}}
| unknown
| align="center" |<ref name="WELSHS" />
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 6.
| 1955
| [[Welsh Amateur Championship (snooker)|Welsh Amateur Championship]] <small>(6)</small>
| data-sort-value="Ford, John"| {{flagathlete|John Ford|WAL}}
| align="center"| 5–2
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite news |title=Welsh billiards championship |newspaper=Pontypridd Observer |date=19 March 1955 |page=13}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#ffa07a;"|Runner-up
| 1.
| 1956
| [[English Amateur Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Gordon, Tommy" | {{flagathlete|Tommy Gordon|ENG}}
| align="center"|9–11
| align="center"| {{sfn|Morrison|1987|page=37}}
|-
!scope="row" style="background:#98FB98"|Winner
| 7.
| 1964
| [[English Amateur Championship]]
| data-sort-value="Spencer, John" |{{flagathlete|[[John Spencer (snooker player)|John Spencer]]|ENG}}
| align="center"|11–8
| align="center"| {{sfn|Morrison|1987|page=37}}
|}

==Publications==
*{{cite book |last=Reardon |first=Ray |title=Classic Snooker |year=1976 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=978-0-340-23112-8 |oclc=16431293 |ref=no}}
*{{cite book |last=Reardon |first=Ray |title=Ray Reardon's 50 Best Trick Shots |year=1980 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=978-0-7153-7993-6 |oclc=9431755|ref=no}}
*{{cite book |last1=Reardon |first1=Ray |last2=Buxton |first2=Peter |title=Ray Reardon |year=1982 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=978-0-7153-8262-2 |oclc=16539704|ref=no}}
*{{cite book |last=Reardon |first=Ray |title=Bedside Snooker |year=1983 |publisher=Century |location=Newton Abbot |isbn=978-0-00-636845-8 |oclc=12507221|ref=no}}
*{{cite book |last1=Reardon |first1=Ray |last2=Hennessey |first2=John |title=Enjoying Snooker with Ray Reardon: A Personal Guide to the Game |year=1985 |publisher=Orbis |location=London |isbn=978-0-85613-909-3 |oclc=60071113|ref=no}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Burn |first=Gordon |title=Pocket Money |year=2008 |orig-year=1986 |publisher=Faber & Faber |location=London |isbn=978-0-571-23683-1}}
*{{cite book |last=Davis |first=Steve |title=Interesting: My Autobiography |publisher=Ebury |location=London |year=2015 |isbn=978-0-09-195864-0 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Everton |first1=Clive |last2=Silverton |first2=John |title= Park Drive Official Snooker and Billiards Year Book |publisher= Gallagher Ltd |location=London |year= 1972 |oclc=498112105 }}
*{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1976 |title=The Ladbroke Snooker International Handbook  |publisher=Ladbrokes Leisure |location=Birmingham |isbn=978-0-905606-00-2}}
*{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1979 |title=The Story of Billiards and Snooker |publisher=Cassell |location=London |isbn=978-0-304-30373-1}}
*{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1981 |title=The Guinness Book of Snooker |publisher=Guinness Superlatives |location=Enfield |isbn=978-0-85112-230-4}}
*{{cite book |editor-last=Everton |editor-first=Clive |date=1984 |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |edition=First |location=London|publisher=Virgin Books |isbn=978-0-86369-051-8}}
*{{cite book |last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1985 |title=Snooker: The Records  |location=Enfield |publisher=Guinness Superlatives|isbn=978-0-85112-448-3 }}
*{{cite book|last=Everton |first=Clive |date=1986 |title=The History of Snooker and Billiards|publisher=Partridge Press |location=Haywards Heath |isbn=978-1-85225-013-3}}
*{{cite book |last=Hale |first=Janice |date=1987 |title=Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1987–88  |location=Aylesbury |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=978-0-356-14690-4 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Hayton |first1=Eric |last2=Dee |first2=John |date=2004 |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History |publisher=Rose Villa Publications |location=Lowestoft |isbn=978-0-9548549-0-4}}
*{{cite book |last=Karnehm |first=Jack |date=1982 |title=World Snooker No. 2 |publisher=Pelham |location=London |isbn=978-0-7207-1398-5}}
*{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |date=1987 |title=The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker |edition=Revised |location=Twickenham |publisher=Hamlyn Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-600-55604-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Morrison |first=Ian |date=1988 |title=Hamlyn Who's Who in Snooker |location=London |publisher=Hamlyn  |isbn=978-0-600-55713-5 }}
*{{cite book |last=Morrison|first=Ian |date=1989 |title=Snooker: Records, Facts and Champions |publisher=Guinness Superlatives Ltd |location=Enfield |isbn=978-0-85112-364-6}}
*{{cite book |last=Perrin |first=Reg |title=Pot Black |publisher=BBC Books |location=London |year=1983 |isbn=978-0-563-20132-8}}
*{{cite book |last=Spencer |first=John |title=Out of the Blue – Into the Black: The Autobiography of John Spencer |publisher=Parrs Wood Press |location=Manchester |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-903158-63-0}}
*{{cite book |last1=Williams |first1=Luke |last2=Gadsby |first2=Paul |date=2005 |title=Masters of the Baize |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Mainstream |isbn=978-1-84018-872-1}}

==External links==
{{portal|Cue sports}}
*{{WST player|old_id=ray-reardon|archive=20221204210432}}
*{{snooker.org player}}

{{World snooker champions}}
{{Masters winners}}
{{Snooker world number ones}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reardon, Ray}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2024 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Welsh sportsmen]]
[[Category:Officers in English police forces]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Tredegar]]
[[Category:Welsh police officers]]
[[Category:Welsh snooker players]]
[[Category:Masters (snooker) champions]]
[[Category:World number one snooker players]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Wales]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Winners of the professional snooker world championship]]