Snooker

Ray Reardon taught Ronnie O’Sullivan things he didn’t know existed, says snooker legend

July 22, 2024

Ray Reardon left a huge influence on the game of snooker (Picture: Shutterstock)

Ray Reardon was able to show Ronnie O’Sullivan things on the snooker table he ‘didn’t know existed’ and was the ‘missing link’ in the development of his game, says Jimmy White.

It was announced that Reardon passed away on Saturday 20 July at 91 years old, having created an incredible legacy in snooker as one of the sport’s greatest ever players.

A six-time world champion and dominant force on the baize in the 1970s, he remains one of the most influential and respected figures in the game.

The Welshman was not only one of the best to ever pick up a cue, but helped create the player who is widely considered the greatest of all time on the snooker table.

After being approached by O’Sullivan’s father early in 2004, Reardon agreed to help mentor the Rocket and develop his defensive and tactical game.

In May of the same year O’Sullivan won the World Championship and credited Reardon greatly for his help in improving his game, with the Rocket still benefiting from that knowledge to this day.

Six-time World Championship finalist White feels Reardon turned O’Sullivan into a complete player and showed him things tactically that the Englishman had no idea could be done.

Ray Reardon mentored Ronnie O’Sullivan to the 2004 World Snooker Championship (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I think he was the missing link for O’Sullivan and made O’Sullivan this winning machine that he’s become because Ray made him enjoy the tactical side,’ White told the WPBSA podcast.

‘It looked like a bit of a strange combination when it first started, but I spoke to Ronnie the first time I saw him at the World Championship with Ray and he said he had so much fun with Ray on and off the table.

‘It wasn’t boring. They ate together, they travelled together. Reardon used to say to him before the match started, “right let’s open the shop, let’s go to work.”

‘It was all about the enjoyment side of teaching Ronnie how to trap people. He said that Reardon showed him safety positions that he didn’t know existed.

‘Obviously with Ronnie’s ability of being the greatest player we’ve ever seen, to show him that side, from that moment on O’Sullivan became a complete player. He didn’t just play a safety shot he looked to put people bang in trouble. There was a time Ronnie went away from that side of it because he thought he’d learned it all, but when he was with Reardon for that amount of time, his game for me improved 21 points on the safety, he became a different animal all together.

Reardon conquered the snooker world six times himself (Picture: Shutterstock)

‘You watch him now and he’s a complete player. Reardon showed him ways of trapping people so in two or three safety shots time he’s going to get the advantage because he’s put him in this position first of all.’

White still rates Reardon as one of the greatest tacticians the game has seen, and thanks to his help, O’Sullivan is up there with him.

‘I’d say you’ve got Reardon, [Mark] Selby, Steve Davis and O’Sullivan are probably the four best tacticians we’ve had,’ said the Whirlwind. ‘There’s other great players, you’ve got to put John Higgins in there, but talk to Steve Davis, he learned so much tactically from Ray Reardon.

‘Once Ronnie O’Sullivan got that side of his game he was always going to go from strength to strength.’

O’Sullivan has spoken fondly of his time with Reardon many times, describing their two years working together as the best of his life.

‘To win that title [in 2004] was great because it was me and Ray. That bond and that relationship that we had,’ O’Sullivan told Eurosport.

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