World Women's Snooker Championship

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

World Women's Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Established1976
Organisation(s)World Women's Snooker
Total prize fund£33,400
Recent edition2024
Current champion Bai Yulu (CHN)

The World Women's Snooker Championship (known as the Women's World Open Championship from 1976 to 1981 and the World Ladies Snooker Championship from 1983 to 2018) is the leading tournament on the World Women's Snooker Tour. The winner receives the Mandy Fisher Trophy and a place on the main professional World Snooker Tour.

History[edit]

The 1976 Women's World Open, which, together with the 1976 World Snooker Championship was sponsored by the tobacco brand Embassy, is recognised as the first edition of the World Womens's Snooker Championship by World Women's Snooker.[1][2][3] The event was held at Middlesbrough Town Hall.[4] Vera Selby defeated Muriel Hazeldene 4–0 in the final and won £500 (plus a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch worth £500.[5]

The next edition was in 1980, when 46 players entered.[6] Agnes Davies, who had won the Women's Professional Snooker Championship in 1949,[7] reached the final where she lost 4–2 to Lesley McIlrath.[1] In 1981, Selby regained her title with a 3–0 victory against Mandy Fisher in the final.[6] The first three championships were governed by the Women's Billiards and Snooker Association, but from 1983 the championship was controlled by the World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association (WLBSA), which was closely associated with Ladies Snooker International, a management and promotions company that had signed up many of the leading players.[6]

The tournament was dominated over the next two decades by Allison Fisher (7 titles), Karen Corr (3 titles), and Kelly Fisher (5 titles), all of whom eventually moved to the United States to compete on the WPBA nine-ball pool tour.[8]: 160 

in 1997, the WLBSA was taken over by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), which pledged to provide additional prize money.[9] From 1998 to 2003, Embassy sponsored the tournament, with the semi-finals and final taking place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield during the World Snooker Championship.[10] The WPBSA's support for the women's circuit stopped in 2003 following its loss of income associated with the UK government's restrictions on tobacco sponsorship of sport,[11] and the championship was not held in 2004.[3]

The most successful player since the tournament's revival in 2005 has been Reanne Evans, who has won the title a record 12 times, including ten consecutive victories from 2005 to 2014.[12][3] Ng On-yee won in 2015, 2017 and 2018.[3] The 2017 event was held in Toa Payoh, Singapore, the first time since 1995 that the tournament was held outside of the UK.[13] Evans claimed an eleventh title in 2016 followed by her twelfth in 2019.[3]

In 2018, the World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association was rebranded as World Women's Snooker, and the tournament was renamed the World Women's Snooker Championship.[14]

The tournament was not staged in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[citation needed] In 2021, the tournament's trophy was renamed the Mandy Fisher Trophy.[15] Fisher founded the World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association in 1981, won the women's world title in 1984, and, as of March 2024, serves as president of World Women's Snooker.[16][17]

After its resumption, the 2022 and 2023 tournaments were won respectively by Thai players Mink Nutcharut and Baipat Siripaporn, ending a 19-year period in which every world title had been won either by Reanne Evans or Ng On-yee.[3] Beginning in 2022, the Women's World Champion automatically receives a two-year tour card to the main professional World Snooker Tour. If the tournament winner already holds a place on the professional tour, the next highest ranked player will receive a place.[15] China hosted the event for the first time in 2024, with the tournament staged in Dongguan.[18] Bai Yulu defeated Nutcharut 6–5 in the final, becoming the first winner from mainland China.[19]

The highest break in the history of the tournament is 127 by Bai in the group stages of the 2023 event.[20]

The tournament's youngest winner is Ann-Marie Farren, who was aged 16 years and 47 days when she won the title at the 1987 event.[21]

Winners[edit]

World Women's Snooker Championship finals[10][3]
Year Winner Runner-up Final score City Ref.
1976  Vera Selby (ENG)  Muriel Hazeldene (ENG) 4–0  Middlesbrough (ENG) [4]
1977–1979 No tournament held [6]
1980  Lesley McIlrath (AUS)  Agnes Davies (WAL) 4–2  Hayling Island (ENG) [6]
1981  Vera Selby (ENG)  Mandy Fisher (ENG) 3–0  Thorness Bay (ENG) [22]
1982 No tournament held
1983  Sue Foster (ENG)  Maureen Baynton (ENG) 8–5  Brean (ENG) [23]
1984 Am  Stacey Hillyard (ENG)  Natalie Stelmach (CAN) 4–1  Coventry (ENG) [6]
1984 Pro  Mandy Fisher (ENG)  Maryann McConnell (CAN) 4–2  Birmingham (ENG) [3][24]
1985  Allison Fisher (ENG)  Stacey Hillyard (ENG) 5–1  Solihull (ENG)
1986  Allison Fisher (ENG)  Sue LeMaich (CAN) 5–0  Solihull (ENG) [25]
1987  Ann-Marie Farren (ENG)  Stacey Hillyard (ENG) 5–1  Puckpool (ENG) [26]
1988  Allison Fisher (ENG)  Ann-Marie Farren (ENG) 6–1  Brixham (ENG)
1989  Allison Fisher (ENG)  Ann-Marie Farren (ENG) 6–5  Brixham (ENG)
1990  Karen Corr (NIR)  Stacey Hillyard (ENG) 7–4  London (ENG) [27]
1991  Allison Fisher (ENG)  Karen Corr (NIR) 8–2  London (ENG) [28]
1992 No tournament held [29]
1993  Allison Fisher (ENG)  Stacey Hillyard (ENG) 9–3  Blackpool (ENG) [30]
1994  Allison Fisher (ENG)  Stacey Hillyard (ENG) 7–3  New Delhi (IND) [31]
1995  Karen Corr (NIR)  Kim Shaw (ENG) 6–3  New Delhi (IND) [32]
1996 No tournament held[a] [33]
1997  Karen Corr (NIR)  Kelly Fisher (ENG) 6–3  Llanelli (WAL) [33]
1998  Kelly Fisher (ENG)  Karen Corr (NIR) 5–0  Sheffield (ENG) [34]
1999  Kelly Fisher (ENG)  Karen Corr (NIR) 4–2  Sheffield (ENG)
2000  Kelly Fisher (ENG)  Lisa Ingall (ENG) 4–1  Sheffield (ENG)
2001  Lisa Quick (ENG)  Lynette Horsburgh (SCO) 4–2  Sheffield (ENG)
2002  Kelly Fisher (ENG)  Lisa Quick (ENG) 4–1  Sheffield (ENG)
2003  Kelly Fisher (ENG)  Lisa Quick (ENG) 4–1  Sheffield (ENG)
2004 No tournament held [35]
2005  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Lynette Horsburgh (SCO) 6–4  Cambridge (ENG) [35]
2006  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Emma Bonney (ENG) 5–3  Cambridge (ENG) [36]
2007  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Katie Henrick (ENG) 5–3  Cambridge (ENG) [37]
2008  Reanne Evans (ENG)  June Banks (ENG) 5–2  Cambridge (ENG)
2009  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Maria Catalano (ENG) 5–2  Cambridge (ENG)
2010  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Maria Catalano (ENG) 5–1  Cambridge (ENG)
2011  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Emma Bonney (ENG) 5–1  Bury St Edmunds (ENG)
2012  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Maria Catalano (ENG) 5–3  Cambridge (ENG)
2013  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Maria Catalano (ENG) 6–3  Cambridge (ENG)
2014  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Ng On-yee (HKG) 6–0  Leeds (ENG) [38]
2015  Ng On-yee (HKG)  Emma Bonney (ENG) 6–2  Leeds (ENG) [39]
2016  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Ng On-yee (HKG) 6–4  Leeds (ENG) [40]
2017  Ng On-yee (HKG)  Vidya Pillai (IND) 6–5  Toa Payoh (SGP) [41]
2018  Ng On-yee (HKG)  Maria Catalano (ENG) 5–0  St. Paul's Bay (MLT)
2019  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Mink Nutcharut (THA) 6–3  Bangkok (THA) [42]
2020–2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022  Mink Nutcharut (THA)  Wendy Jans (BEL) 6–5  Sheffield (ENG)
2023  Baipat Siripaporn (THA)  Bai Yulu (CHN) 6–3  Bangkok (THA)
2024  Bai Yulu (CHN)  Mink Nutcharut (THA) 6–5  Dongguan (CHN)

Statistics by player[edit]

Rank Name Nationality Winner Runner-up
1 Reanne Evans  England 12 0
2 Allison Fisher  England 7 0
3 Kelly Fisher  England 5 1
4 Karen Corr  Northern Ireland 3 3
5 Ng On Yee  Hong Kong 3 2
6 Vera Selby  England 2 0
7 Stacey Hillyard  England 1 5
8 Ann-Marie Farren  England 1 2
Lisa Quick  England 1 2
Mink Nutcharut  Thailand 1 2
11 Mandy Fisher  England 1 1
Bai Yulu  China 1 1
13 Lesley McIlrath  Australia 1 0
Sue Foster  England 1 0
Baipat Siripaporn  Thailand 1 0
16 Maria Catalano  England 0 5
17 Emma Bonney  England 0 3
18 Lynette Horsburgh  Scotland 0 2
19 Muriel Hazeldene  England 0 1
Agnes Davies  Wales 0 1
Maureen Baynton  England 0 1
Natalie Stelmach  Canada 0 1
Maryann McConnell  Canada 0 1
Sue LeMaich  Canada 0 1
Kim Shaw  England 0 1
Lisa Ingall  England 0 1
Katie Henrick  England 0 1
June Banks  England 0 1
Vidya Pillai  India 0 1
Wendy Jans  Belgium 0 1

Active players are shown in bold.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ A championship was started in 1996 but did not conclude until 1997 and is recorded as the 1997 Championship.[33]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Everton, Clive (1982). The Guinness Book of Snooker (Revised ed.). Enfield: Guinness Superlatives. pp. 155–157. ISBN 978-0-85112-256-4.
  2. ^ Everton, Clive (29 March 1976). "Sponsors add interest". The Guardian. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "World Champions". World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 10 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b Corbett, Ted (May 1976). "Embassy Ladies Open Championship". Snooker Scene. pp. 12–13.
  5. ^ Davison, John (5 April 1976). "Vera Must Fight To Win This Title". Evening Chronicle. p. 17.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Everton, Clive (1985). Guinness Snooker: The Records. Enfield: Guinness Superlatives Ltd. pp. 155–156. ISBN 0851124488.
  7. ^ Everton, Clive (1 March 2011). "Agnes Davies obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  8. ^ Everton, Clive (2012). Black Farce and Cue Ball Wizards. Edinburgh: Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-78057-568-1.
  9. ^ Yates, Phil (24 October 1997). "Women's game lifted – Snooker". The Times. p. 45.
  10. ^ a b "Ladies' Snooker". cajt.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  11. ^ Potter, Sarah (20 November 2003). "Colour of money pulls Fisher into pool". The Times. p. 55.
  12. ^ "Reanne Evans wins 12th Women's World Snooker Championship title". BBC Sport. 23 June 2019. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  13. ^ "WLBS Announces 2016/17 Calendar". World Snooker. 21 June 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  14. ^ "World Women's Snooker". World Snooker. 29 November 2018. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Sheffield to Host 2022 World Women's Snooker Championship". World Snooker. 12 October 2021. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  16. ^ McNee, Sandy (7 November 1989). "In search of the big break – Snooker". The Times. p. 39.
  17. ^ "Board". World Womens' Snooker. Archived from the original on 1 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  18. ^ "China to Host World Women's Snooker Championship for First Time". Archived from the original on 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  19. ^ "World Women's Snooker Championship: China's Bai Yulu beats Mink Nutcharut to win first world title". BBC Sport. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Bai Yulu Makes 127 In Thailand". World Women's Snooker. 1 March 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  21. ^ "Youngest world champion (female)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  22. ^ "Vera regains world title". Newcastle Journal. England. 11 May 1981. p. 10.
  23. ^ "Sue Foster – Women's World Champion". Cue World. July 1983. p. 25.
  24. ^ Huart, Matt. "WWS History". World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  25. ^ Hale, Janice (1987). Rothmans Snooker Yearbook 1987–88. Aylesbury: Queen Anne Press. pp. 294–295. ISBN 0356146901.
  26. ^ Acteson, Steve (16 October 1987). "Farren wins world title after Fisher freezes". The Times (London). p. 38 – via The Times Digital Archive. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  27. ^ Yates, Philip. "Corr keeps cool to win women's world title". Snooker Scene. No. December 1990. Everton's News Agency. p. 4.
  28. ^ Yates, Phil (11 November 1991). "Fisher confirms her status as champion – Snooker". The Times. London – via NewsBank. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  29. ^ "Allison Fisher retains women's world title". Snooker Scene. No. June 1993. Everton's News Agency. p. 21.
  30. ^ Hunn, David (25 April 1993). "Fisher proves she's the very best in a different pool – Snooker". The Sunday Times. London. p. 2/9 – via NewsBank. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  31. ^ Yates, Phil (23 May 1994). "Fisher makes it seven". The Times. p. 22.
  32. ^ "Karen Corr regains women's world title". Snooker Scene. Everton's News Agency. October 1995. pp. 14–15.
  33. ^ a b c "Karen Corr wins 1996 world title a little late". Snooker Scene. No. July 1997. Everton's News Agency. pp. 12–13.
  34. ^ "Kelly Fisher: first woman to win at the Crucible". Snooker Scene. Everton's News Agency. June 1998. p. 29.
  35. ^ a b "Evans takes title after replayed frame". Snooker Scene. No. May 2005. Everton's News Agency. p. 23.
  36. ^ "Hard labour for Evans to retain title". Snooker Scene. No. May 2006. Everton's News Agency. p. 5.
  37. ^ Yates, Phil (5 April 2007). "O'Sullivan is handed clear run thanks to WPBSA delay". The Times. London – via The Times Digital Archive. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  38. ^ "Perfect Ten For Evans". World Snooker. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  39. ^ "Ng On Yee ends Reanne Evans' reign as world champion". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  40. ^ "Reanne Evans wins 11th Ladies' World Snooker Championship". BBC Sport. 5 April 2016. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  41. ^ "On Yee Wins Women's World Title". World Snooker. 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017.
  42. ^ "Player Reanne Evans's matches in the 2019 World Women's Snooker Championship". snookerscores.net. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.

External links[edit]