Ronnie O’Sullivan’s ‘Dracula’ teeth gimmick after winning a world title showed how much he respected his former mentor, the late Ray Reardon, and he proved it again with a touching video call

Ronnie O’Sullivan showed how much he respected the late snooker legend and his mentor, Ray Reardon, as he celebrated the 2024 World Championship with a brilliant tribute.

‘The Rocket’ is one of the greatest snooker players of all-time, but his career has taken shape thanks to a helping hand from the brilliant Reardon. The Welshman, who died last week aged 91, once claimed O’Sullivan was like a son to him after taking him under his wing.

Reardon, also known as ‘Dracula’ due to his widow’s peak and prominent teeth, spoke about his relationship with O’Sullivan to the BBC, insisting he “put 10 years on my life,” adding: “When we got to know each other, it was like father and son, really. It was wonderful, fantastic.”

The pair got in contact in 2004 when Reardon received a call from O’Sullivan’s father, who was in prison at the time. During their chat, O’Sullivan Sr. convinced Reardon to lend a hand to his son amid a couple years of underperforming.

When the two met, ‘Dracula’ gave O’Sullivan a hug and told him he’d make him “impregnable”. “I remember him saying, ‘You pot balls for fun, no one’s better than you but we’re going to teach you how to become impregnable’,” O’Sullivan recalled. “I was like, ‘What does that mean?’

And he went, ‘Well, no weaknesses’. We’re going to work on your defensive game.’ And that was it really. We just kind of got to work.” A few months later, O’Sullivan won the world title and celebrated by wearing a set of fake vampire teeth in honour of his mentor as he received the trophy.

“Ray’s come down here and he’s added a new dimension to my game,” he lauded after landing the title. “And I don’t want to give no secrets away but he’s really improved me in certain areas and I think that’s where I’ve needed to develop as a player.”

O’Sullivan has gone on to win five further world titles and his most recent triumph saw him become the oldest world champion in snooker history at 46, breaking Reardon’s record he set back in 1978 when he won his sixth and final world title. The pair met again on a video call organised by the BBC for an emotional documentary in 2022, during which Reardon told the tale of their close personal and professional bond.

Reardon was reunited with his old protégé, who he referred to as “Ronnie the Rascal” and “the Magician”. O’Sullivan told him that without his personal mentorship, he would never have become one of the most successful players in the history of the sport.

Reardon then confessed he was feeling lonely, before O’Sullivan said they should meet up, adding: “I love that man. Anything for Ray.”