Ray Reardon - Indian Summer

Indian Summer

After Reardon's sixth world title he remained one of the world's very best players for some years. He was beaten by Dennis Taylor in the 1979 quarter-final, and by David Taylor at the same stage in 1980. He went a step further in 1981, beating John Spencer 13–11 and Bill Werbeniuk 13–10 before being surprisingly beaten by fellow Welshman Doug Mountjoy in the semi-finals in what was Mountjoy's best ever World Championship performance. Mountjoy scored a championship record break of 145 during the match, which he won 16–10.

It was the rise of Steve Davis in 1980–81 that saw Reardon and his generation lose their grip on the game. However, Reardon, despite approaching 50, did not surrender his grip easily. For the 1982/3 season Reardon returned to number one in the world rankings and the following season won two major events. Reardon also had the distinction of whitewashing Steve Davis twice during the latter's prime. Firstly 6–0 in the 1982 Highland Masters semi-final (an event Reardon went on to win) and secondly in 1988 (see below).

However, despite Davis' domination over an 18-month period between late 1980 and the spring of 1982, Reardon remained a major force in the game. At 49, he reached the World final in 1982, losing to Alex Higgins 15–18.

In 1982/3, Reardon's career went through an Indian summer. In late 1982 Reardon won the Players Professional Tournament, beating Jimmy White 10–5 in the final. He reached the final of the Benson & Hedges Masters, losing 7–9 to Cliff Thorburn, and went on to win the Yamaha Organs International Masters, where he beat Steve Davis 2–1 in the semi-final group stages, before defeating Jimmy White 9–6 in the final, having trailed 5–3. Reardon also regained the Welsh Professional Title, hammering Terry Griffiths 9–4 and Doug Mountjoy 9–1 in the semi final and final respectively. This led him to be fancied in some quarters for that year's World Championship, but he was beaten 12–13 in a high-quality second round match by Tony Knowles.

Reardon reached the semi-finals of the World Championships once more, in 1985 (losing 5–16 to Davis). He last played at the Crucible in 1987, losing to Steve Davis again in the second round.