ɹˈiə fˈɜːst ɐpˈɪɹd ɪnðə wˈɜːld tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi nˈaɪn, wˌɛn hiː lˈɔst ˈeɪtiːn sˈɛvəntˌiːn tə kˈɑːnɹæd stˈænbɛɹi ɪnðə sˈɛkənd kwˈɔlᵻfˌaɪɪŋ ɹˈaʊnd.
Rea first appeared in the World Championship in 1949, when he lost 18–17 to Conrad Stanbury in the second qualifying round.