Bai Yulu is First Irish Champion
Bai Yulu has defeated Mink Nutcharut 4-2 to win the first-ever Irish Women’s Snooker Open at the SBI HQ in Carlow, Ireland.
The Chinese star underlined her status as the oustanding player on Tour so far this season as she lifted maintained her unbeaten run to claim her third ranking title of the campaign and her seventh overall since her debut in March 2023.
The two-time world champion has now won her last 31 matches on the circuit, dating back to the British Open in March and is fast closing in on Mink Nutcharut and Ng On Yee at the top of the world rankings.
Having compiled five of the six highest breaks during the three-day event – including stunning century breaks of 119 and 110 – Bai once again demonstrated her trademark heavy scoring on her way to the crown.
She was, however, to survive a scare at the quarter-final stage as she trailed Hong Kong China’s So Man Yan 0-59 in a deciding frame with the match score locked at 2-2, before a stunning 71 clearance earned her a place in the semi-finals.
There she would face India’s Anupama Ramachandran in what was a closely contested affair during the opening two frames, before Bai produced breaks of 96, 119 and 40 to power to a place in the title match.
Awaiting her would be the world number one in a repeat of this year’s World Championship final, with the Thai player having most notably overcome three-time world champion Ng On Yee in a deciding-frame at the semi-final stage.
Following a high-quality week of snooker throughout with over 28 half-century or better breaks scored during the three days, the final was to prove a suitably absorbing affair, with Bai producing breaks of 65, 56 and a beautifully crafted 97 to establish a 3-1 lead.
World number one Mink showed all her fighting qualities as she took the fifth with a run of 46 to keep her hopes alive, but Bai was not to be denied as she edged a scrappy sixth frame to seal her latest ranking crown.
Bai will head into the New Year as the player to beat as the Tour heads to Bulgaria for the WSF Women’s Championship in January.
Victories for Phoemphul, Davidson
Thailand’s Narucha Phoemphul made it four Under-21 victories from four so far this season as the top ranked junior again underlined her status as the preeminent Under-21 player currently on the Tour.
The 19-year-old saw off challengers Zoe Killington and former number one Sophie Nix to earn her sixth Under-21 title during the past 12 months.
In the Seniors competition there was also to be victory for the top ranked player as England’s Tessa Davidson defeated Ireland’s Paula Judge 2-0 to claim an incredible 18th title since she returned to the Tour in January 2022.
The 56-year-old remains unbeaten at Seniors competitions dating back to the 2023 UK Championship, having won 12 consecutive tournaments during that sequence.
Finally, there was to be a home victory in the Challenge Cup for Ireland’s Margaret O’Driscoll as she defeated Laura Killington 2-0 to take the title for players who did not reach the main event quarter-finals.
The win marked a successful return to the WWS Tour for O’Driscoll, who was competing in her first event in over 24 years since the 2001 World Championship.
World Women’s Snooker thanks everyone who has supported the event, in particular Snooker & Billiards Ireland and Sport Ireland, who have provided extensive support and without whom the competition would not have been possible.
The World Women’s Snooker Tour continues with the WSF Women’s Championship, which runs from 19-23 January 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Enter now via WPBSA SnookerScores.
