fˈɑːloʊɪŋ hɪz nˈaɪntiːn ɪlˈɛvən fˈɜːst ɹˈaʊnd dᵻfˈiːt tʊ ˈælɪks hˈɪɡɪnz ɪnðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈuː wˈɜːld tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp, ɹˈiə wʌz fˈoːɹst ˌɪntʊ ðə kwˈɔlᵻfˌaɪɪŋ kˌɑːmpətˈɪʃən.
Following his 19–11 first round defeat to Alex Higgins in the 1972 World Championship, Rea was forced into the qualifying competition.