Reardon's first appearance at the World Snooker Championship was in 1969, in a quarter-final, against Fred Davis. The match featured lengthy tactical exchanges between the players, resulting in some of the longest sessions ever to take place in world championship history to that point. No player was ahead by more than two until Reardon won the 27th frame to lead 15–12, after which Davis won six successive frames. The pair were level again at 24–24 in the best of 49 frames contest, meaning that the match went to a . In the 49th frame, Davis compiled a break of 52, and after Davis added some points in further visits, Reardon conceded the frame at 64 points behind with one remaining. In July 1969, the BBC started broadcasting "Pot Black", initially 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 by 88 to 29 in the final.