Ray Reardon: Six-time world snooker champion dies aged 91

Welshman Mark Williams, a three-time world champion, told the World Snooker Tour: “Ray is one of the best sportspeople ever from Wales, and the best snooker player.

“He’s one of the reasons why a lot of us started playing. He put snooker on the map, alongside Alex Higgins, Jimmy White and Steve Davis.

“Anyone playing now owes them a lot because they brought popularity to the game. He is a real inspiration.”

Six-time World Championship finalist Jimmy White said he was “gutted” at the death of his “close friend”.

He described Reardon as a “class act” and “a giant of the game”, adding: “Rest in peace mate.”

Four-time world champion Mark Selby said Reardon was “a legend”, while commentator and former player John Virgo said it was “an honour to have known… a true great of our game”.

Dennis Taylor, the 1985 world champion, said he “had the pleasure of travelling around the world with a true gentleman”.

Stuart Bingham, world champion in 2015, said it was “one of the proudest moments receiving the Welsh Open trophy from the legend himself” in 2017.