Category: News

Wongharuthai Wins New Under-21 Award

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World Women’s Snooker (WWS) is today pleased to announce that Nutcharut Wongharuthai has been selected as the inaugural winner of the new WWS Under-21 Player of the Season for the 2018/19 season.

The new award is sponsored by RR Cues Cases, who will provide a stunning bespoke cue case (pictured below) for the 20-year-old star, bearing her name upon its handle and the wording ‘WWS Under-21 Player of the Season’ on its interior.

The announcement, delayed as Wongharuthai, who is also known as ‘Mink’, was unable to attend September’s UK Women’s Championship to be presented with the case, follows a career-best season during which her achievements included:

  • Reaching three ranking event finals, including her first World Championship final in Thailand
  • Becoming the first female player to make a verified 147 break during a practice match
  • Breaking into the top four of the WWS world rankings for the first time

Mandy Fisher, WWS President said: “Following her incredible achievements last season there could only be one winner of this new award and it is with pleasure that we can announce Nutcharut as our first ever WWS Under-21 Player of the Season.

“Ever since her first event back in 2017 we have all been impressed with her technique, hard work and dedication to our sport and are excited by what the future holds for her.

“I would however also like to acknowledge the efforts of all of our junior players who will be keeping her on her toes for years to come, including our current junior number one Emma Parker and our new World Under-21 champion Ploychompoo Laokiatphong.”

The presentation of her case will take place during the upcoming Eden Women’s Masters at Frames Sports Bar which is set to run from 23-24 November 2019.

Learn more about RR Cue Cases online.

Follow RR Cue Cases on Social Media:

Facebook: fb.me/rrcuecases
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World Rankings – Australian Women’s Open 2019 Update

By In Australian Women's Open, Eden Women's Masters, News, Rankings, WWS Updated: Comments Off on World Rankings – Australian Women’s Open 2019 Update

The official world women’s rankings were recently updated for the second time during the 2019/20 season after Nutcharut Wongharuthai claimed her first ranking event title at the Australian Women’s Open last month.

The WWS world rankings operate on a rolling two-year basis, with points earned during 2017/18 to be removed during the course of this season. At this revision, no points were removed, with those earned at this year’s Australian Women’s Open added.

Maximum Mink on the Move

Although a number of the world’s top 10 were absent in Sydney, there was a significant move in the top four as Nutcharut Wongharuthai moved above Rebecca Kenna into third place, a new career-high for the Thai youngster. Having entered the event 3,350 points behind Kenna, ‘Mink’ as she is also known more than did enough to break new ground in Australia as she defeated second ranked Ng On Yee in the final to bag the maximum 7,500 points.

With Kenna set to defend semi-final points at this month’s Eden Masters from two years ago, an event which Wongharuthai did not play in, the Thai star is already guaranteed to end the calendar year in at least third position. Next in her sights will be three-time world champion On Yee, with the Hong Kong star mathematically within reach in Coulsdon later this month if Wongharuthai were to go all the way with On Yee losing out early.

While this would appear unlikely, On Yee does have 7,250 more points to defend during the second half of this season than Wongharuthai meaning that we are set for a real battle for the number two spot behind runaway world number one Reanne Evans over the coming months.

Notable Movers

Elsewhere, Jaique Ip Wan In returned to the world’s top 10 for the first time since 2017 after reaching the semi-finals in Sydney to become the second highest ranked player from Hong Kong and with fewer points to defend this season than anyone else inside the top 14 will be hoping to consolidate her position over the coming months. There is also a notable rise for another Hong Kong native as Pui Ying Mini Chu climbed to 18th position after her own run in Sydney.

Of the Australian players competing on home soil Judy Dangerfield consolidated her position as the highest-ranked in 28th, while quarter-finalist Jessica Woods moves up to 31st, a gain of seven places. Also reaching the last eight from Australia was Carlie Tait, who improved upon her last 16 run in Sydney a year previously and climbs 27 places to number 42.

Also breaking new ground is Tani Mina of Japan who moves to 51st position, while South Korea’s Jeong Min Park is up to 39th after she reached the quarter-finals.

The World Women’s Snooker Tour will return with the Eden Women’s Masters from 23-24 November 2019. Enter online HERE.

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Maximum Mink Wins First Ranking Title

By In Australian Women's Open, General News, News, WWS Updated: Comments Off on Maximum Mink Wins First Ranking Title

Nutcharut Wongharuthai has defeated Ng On Yee 4-2 in the final of the Australian Women’s Open to capture her first-ever ranking event title on Sunday.

Held for a second time at the Mounties venue in Sydney, Australia, following last year’s inaugural event, the competition saw 24 players battle it out to become champion across four days of hard-fought action.

It would be the top two seeded players who would make it through to the showpiece match, Thailand’s Wongharuthai ominously doing so for the loss of no frames, while defending champion On Yee made it back-to-back finals in Sydney with victories against Jessica Woods and So Man Yan in the latter rounds.

Contested over the best of seven frames, the final saw 19-year-old Wongharuthai make the faster start by moving into a 2-0 lead, before former world number one On Yee hit back with a run of 70 to get herself off the mark. Mink, as Wongharuthai is also commonly known, took the fourth frame to restore her two-frame advantage, only for On Yee to again close the gap with a second 70 break to stay in the match.

Wongharuthai was not to be denied however, runs of 38 and 37 in the sixth and ultimately final frame proving enough for her to claim glory for the first time on the World Women’s Snooker Tour.

Victory for the Thai star adds to a career-best year which has already seen her reach her first World Championship final and become the first woman to make a verified 147 break back in March. She is now also guaranteed to climb to a new career-high ranking of number three, overtaking Rebecca Kenna who did not compete in Australia.

Wongharuthai’s success also represents the first ranking event win for a player other than On Yee or Reanne Evans on the circuit since Maria Catalano claimed victory at the Connie Gough Trophy back in February 2017 and the Thai star also finished the week with the highest break after her run of 90 during the group stage.

All at World Women’s Snooker would like to thank the Australian Billiards and Snooker Council for their hard work in running this event during the week.

The World Women’s Snooker Tour continues with the Eden Women’s Masters which runs from 23-24 November at Frames Sports Bar in Coulsdon, England. Enter the event online HERE.

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Australian Women’s Open 2019: Group Stage Draw

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There is just over one week to go until the start of the second Australian Women’s Open event and the group stage draw is now available to view online:

Won last year by three-time world champion Ng On Yee of Hong Kong, the event returns from 17-20 October 2019 with a 25-player field hoping to walk away with this year’s title.

The players, have been drawn across four round-robin groups, with four players from each to progress to the last 16. Eight players have been seeded in total (two per group) in accordance with the WWS world ranking list as follows:

  1. Ng On Yee
  2. Nutcharut Wongharuthai
  3. Jaique Ip Wan In
  4. Pui Ying Mini Chu
  5. Judy Dangerfield
  6. Jessica Woods
  7. So Man Yan
  8. Jeong Min Park

The event has been organised by the Australian Billiards and Snooker Council (ABSC) with the support of World Women’s Snooker and will be the second ranking event of the 2019/20 World Women’s Snooker Tour.

Follow the WPBSA Tournament Manager and our social media feeds for regular updates during the event, as well as the ABSC website.

Eden Women’s Masters – Entry Open

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We are now accepting entries for the 2019 Eden Women’s Masters, to be held at Frames Sports Bar in Coulsdon, England for the first time from 23-24 November.

Won last year for a record fifth time by England’s Reanne Evans, the event will include a main tournament, as well as side-events for Under-21 and Seniors players (subject to entries). There will also be a Challenge Cup competition staged on Sunday for players who have already been knocked out of the main competition prior to the final day.

As was the case last season, to encourage new and returning players to pick up a cue and try the competition, we will continue to offer free entry to the main competition for women who have not competed at a WWS event during the past three seasons i.e. since the start of the 2016/17 season.

Hotel

Courtesy of our hosts at Frames there is a special hotel rate available at Coulsdon Manor Hotel for the duration of the tournament as follows:

  • Friday 22 November – £85.00 per room bed and breakfast (maximum two people)
  • Saturday 23 November – £85.00 per room bed and breakfast (maximum two people)
  • Sunday 24 November – £70.00 per room bed and breakfast (maximum two people)

To claim the discount, please call the hotel on 020 8668 0414 and mention ‘Frames Sports Bar’ when booking.

The closing date for entries and payment of entry fees is 4:30pm BST on Friday 15 November 2019.

Frames Sports Bar to Host Eden Women’s Masters

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World Women’s Snooker (WWS) is today pleased to announce that this season’s Eden Women’s Masters will be held at Frames Sports Bar in Coulsdon for the first time.

The prestigious event, won for a fifth time by world number one Reanne Evans last year, will be the third ranking competition of the 2019/20 World Women’s Snooker Tour season and the final WWS event of the calendar year.

Home to several professional main tour players including Jimmy White, Marco Fu and Alexander Ursenbacher, Frames is a member of the 147 Club affiliation scheme by the English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards, and boasts an impressive 15 full-size snooker tables, including six match tables. The playing area is fully air-conditioned and all tables are equipped with modern snooker lighting to provide the best conditions possible.

Mandy Fisher, WWS President said: “We are excited to be heading to Frames for this year’s Eden Women’s Masters for the first time. The facilities look to be very impressive and all of us are grateful for the support and hospitality that has been extended to us by Tony and his team already.”

Tony Thompson, owner of Frames Sports Bar said: “We are honoured to be hosting the prestigious Eden Women’s Masters event. The staff and players in the club are all excited to see all the great talent on display. We wish all the competitors the best of luck and may the best player win!”

The full event entry pack will be released soon, with free entry being offered for women and girls who have not competed in an event before, or since before the start of the 2016/17 season.

View this season’s full calendar HERE.

World Women’s Rankings – UK Women’s Championship 2019 Update

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The official world women’s rankings have been updated for the first time during the 2019/20 season after Reanne Evans made a winning start to the new season with victory at the UK Women’s Snooker Championship last weekend.

The WWS world rankings operate on a rolling two-year basis, with points earned during 2017/18 to be removed during the course of this season. At this revision, points earned at the 2017 Paul Hunter Women’s Classic and 2017 UK Women’s Championship were removed from the ranking list and replaced by those earned at the Northern Snooker Centre this month.

Evans Extends Lead

Reanne Evans has significantly increased her lead at the top of the world women’s ranking list from 16,850 points to a commanding 24,350 points following her record ninth victory at this year’s UK Women’s Championship in Leeds.

With both players defending the same amount of points from the corresponding time period two years ago, victory for Evans combined with On Yee not competing in this year’s event results in a net gain of 7,500 points for the reigning world champion.

From now until the end of the season both players have a similar amount of points to come off their totals after the leading pair dominated the 2017/18 season and so Evans is now well-placed to retain the top ranking for the foreseeable future.

The Top 10

Away from the top two, Laura Evans has leapfrogged Maria Catalano into fifth position, despite Catalano reaching her first ranking final in 18 months last weekend. This is because she was defending 8,550 ranking points from both the Paul Hunter Women’s Classic and UK Women’s Championship events in 2017, while Evans missed the German event in 2017 and so had just 3,750 to be removed from her total this week.

Nevertheless, with the majority of her total points to be removed over the coming season following a difficult period for Catalano off the table, her final run this week is a timely boost as she looks to retain her top eight ranking.

Also on the rise inside the top 10 is Hornchurch youngster Emma Parker, who climbs one place to a career-high eighth position after she reached the quarter-finals of the season-opening event in Leeds. With relatively few points to defend from two years ago compared to those ranked immediately above her, there is every chance that the 20-year-old can make further gains still over the next few months.

On the Rise

Elsewhere, there were gains for Hong Kong’s Jaique Ip Wan In who climbs four places to 13th, while players including Jackie Ellis and Connie Stephens are up to new career-highs of 16th and 21st positions respectively.

Thailand’s Ploychompoo Laokiatphong is also up four places to 26th after she reached her maiden ranking event semi-final in Leeds and with no points to defend from her total during the remainder of the season will be targeting further gains over the next few months.

There is a new career-high of 35th for 13-year-old Zoe Killington after she reached the last 16 stage for a first time, representing a gain of 10 places, while  Chrissy Allwood jumps to 45th and debutants Jodie Lockett, Mariia Shevchenko and Hind Bennani are all up to tied 64th after reaching the knockout rounds.

Under-21 / Seniors

Victory for Emma Parker sees her successfully retain top spot on the Under-21 ranking list, with runner-up Steph Daughtery remaining on her heels in second position. Former world under-21 champion Nutcharut Wongharuthai climbs one place to third after 2017 runner-up Shannon Metcalf was unable to defend her points last weekend due to a knee injury.

Meanwhile the new Seniors rankings announced earlier this summer reflects the results of last weekend’s side-tournament with Jan Hughes becoming its first number one after her title triumph in Leeds.

Please note that for this season ranking points in the Under-21 and Seniors rankings will be awarded in accordance with the new side-events points schedule available HERE.

The World Women’s Snooker Tour will return with the Australian Women’s Open from 17-20 October 2019.

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Evans Claims Record Ninth UK Crown

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Reanne Evans has defeated Maria Catalano 4-2 to capture the UK Women’s Snooker Championship for a record-extending ninth time at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds.

The victory sees the world number one maintain her current 11-month unbeaten run on the World Women’s Snooker Tour, which has now seen her claim seven consecutive titles and is her first UK success since 2016.

Having started her campaign with a win against Zoe Killington, 33-year-old Evans survived a scare against Hong Kong’s Fong Mei Mei at the quarter-final stage before coming through a 3-2 winner. She then comfortably defeated namesake Laura Evans in the semi-finals to reach an unprecedented 12th UK final.

There she would face close friend Maria Catalano, who previously won the event back in 2012 and had reached the final on a further five previous occasions prior to 2019. The current world number five defeated Connie Stephens on Saturday before surviving hard-fought matches with promising youngsters Emma Parker and Thailand’s Ploychompoo Laokiatphong to progress to her first final since the 2018 World Women’s Championship in Malta.

It was Catalano who made the stronger start to the final to lead 1-0 and 2-1, before Evans snatched what would prove to be a pivotal fourth frame on the black to level the scores. From there she began to take control of the match, taking the fifth frame to lead for the first time before comfortably adding the sixth to crown victory.

“It was patchy this weekend, but I felt good even when I played bad so I knew it [form] was there,” said Evans. “Overall I am really pleased, to play Maria in the final again was good. It is always a bit awkward to play against your best mate, but I’m just glad to see her back after last year [Maria lost her father shortly before the same event in 2018] so this one is for her. She didn’t want to enter and we sort of made her treat it as a holiday, but she relaxed and to be fair she played a little bit better than me. I just dug in there and waited for my chances.”

For Evans the event followed her appearance at the SangSom 6-Red World Championship last week in Thailand, as she returned to the site of her record 12th world title success earlier this summer.

“It has only been the last day or so that I have actually slept well, then I got here and didn’t sleep,” continued Evans. “But it was brilliant to be back in Thailand and to be part of an event like that. I’m just happy to be playing in all of these different events now before I get too old!”

The tournament saw 32 players travel from across the world to compete including from Hong Kong, Morocco and Russia as the World Women’s Snooker Tour continues to grow. The high break was a fantastic run of 105 compiled by champion Evans during the second frame of her quarter-final win.

Side-events

Emma Parker shrugged off the disappointment of her narrow quarter-final defeat in the main competition to claim the UK Women’s Under-21 title for the second time in three years with a 2-0 win against Steph Daughtery.

The current junior number one defeated Zoe Killington and then Ploychompoo Laokiatphong in a tight semi-final, before overcoming 2015 and 2016 champion Daughtery to seal victory.

There was also a new winner in the Seniors side-event as Jan Hughes claimed her first over-40s tournament since since 2012 following a 2-1 win against Bugsie Cothier. Hughes defeated Michelle Baker before inflicting a first seniors defeat upon Jenny Poulter since April 2017 to reach the final, before edging out first-time finalist Cothier to claim the title.

The Challenge Cup side-event for players who had exited the main competition prior to the quarter-finals was won by Jaique Ip of Hong Kong, who defeated Morocco’s Hind Bennani who became the first African to compete on the WWS circuit during the weekend. Ip began with victories against Charlee Blair-McDonough, Jackie Ellis and Jenny Poulter, before scoring a 2-0 victory against Bennani for the title.

The next stop on the World Women’s Snooker Tour will be the Australian Women’s Open, which will run from 17-20 October 2019 in Sydney, Australia. Enter online now via the Australian Billiards and Snooker Council website HERE.

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Cue Sports Yorkshire Supports Women’s Snooker

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World Women’s Snooker (WWS) is today pleased to announce that Cue Sports Yorkshire will become our latest tour partner for the remainder of the 2019/20 season.

Formed in 2017 by our current world number three Rebecca Kenna and her husband Ash, the Keighley-based company offers a wide range of cues, cases and accessories for players of all cue sports across West Yorkshire and beyond.

The store is also the home of one full-size snooker table, allowing customers to try products immediately and is used by Rebecca (who in 2018 qualified as a WPBSA World Snooker Level 2 coach), to deliver coaching lessons and for her own practice in between tournaments.

Cue Sports Yorkshire will be featured on our website as a tour partner and during the season on our social media platforms.

Rebecca Kenna said: “On behalf of Cue Sports Yorkshire I am really happy that we will be able to support the World Women’s Snooker Tour during this season.

“I have always been passionate about cue sports and since joining the WWS circuit in 2016 I have never looked back. I have met some fantastic people and enjoyed competing in events around the world, as well as taking the opportunity to become an accredited coach and of course also being able to provide a high-quality service to all players at Cue Sports Yorkshire.

“The WWS circuit has grown significantly during the past three years, only last month I was able to play at the Crucible Theatre for the first time at the Women’s Tour Championship and therefore I am pleased that Cue Sports Yorkshire is able to support its aim of getting more women and girls on the baize.”

Learn more about Cue Sports Yorkshire online HERE.

View all of our Tour Partners HERE.

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Zoe Killington Q&A

By In Interviews, News, Player Features, WWS Updated: Comments Off on Zoe Killington Q&A

Among those who will be competing at this weekend’s UK Women’s Snooker Championship in Leeds is 13-year-old Zoe Killington and we recently caught up with the Merseyside youngster to talk about her snooker journey so far…

Hi Zoe, you are one of our youngest players on the World Women’s Snooker Tour, how much have you enjoyed competing on the circuit and how did you get into snooker?

It has been nearly a year since I started at the Eden Women’s Masters last year. I have enjoyed the events immensely. It is fantastic to be able to play snooker with other women and girls and be part of a community.

I first started playing about a year earlier, just for fun. I wanted a hobby and just have something fun to do at the weekend. My dad has played snooker since he was young and plays with a few of his mates. One week I had to go with him and I found it quite interesting. At first I didn’t want to take it seriously, but I started having lessons around March 2018, and that’s when I thought about taking it more seriously.

You come from a real snooker hotbed in Merseyside, tell us a little about where you play and the other notable players in the area…

Where I play is fantastic [George Scott Snooker Club]. We have a kids club on a Saturday morning and everyone there is nice and friendly. I’ve made some good friends. It’s good to have friends who enjoy playing snooker, even if they are all boys.

One of my teammates, Sean Maddocks, is an upcoming talent. He recently just missed out on a main tour place at Q School, making it to the final round. He’s only 17 and he’s made two 147s. Another good player is Danny Harwood, who plays on the World Disability Billiards and Snooker circuit. He plays in our league and is always a challenge. Another teammate of mine is Mikey Roberts. He’s 15 and won Merseyside events and is another outstanding player.

Who are your snooker heroes? Earlier this year you played Mark Selby in an exhibition…

Earlier this year I did play Mark Selby, set up by my coach. But some of my heroes are Anthony McGill, Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump. When I first started to play snooker, I noticed Anthony McGill. I liked the way he played, and I learnt a lot on shot selection. He also noticed my cueing action on Facebook as he is friends with my coach. That did make me like him more. I’ve met him in person in my local club and in the club he plays in, in Glasgow.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s UK Women’s Snooker Championship, the event will be a little different for you as for the first time, your younger sister Laura will be taking part in the under-21 competition in Leeds. How special would it be to have two Killingtons high in the rankings one day?

I am so excited for my sister, Laura, to play in Leeds. I have wanted her to play for ages, but she did gymnastics and enjoyed that. It would be so fun if we could both be some of the best players on the circuit. It would just be great to have her there and for her to play at a young age would mean she would improve so much, so quickly, I could have a real threat soon! We hope to compete together in the World Women’s Pairs Championship at some point.

 And finally, what message would you have for other girls who might be thinking of taking up snooker and joining the WWS Tour?

For anyone who’s joining the circuit and playing snooker, it’s fabulous. You feel part of a community, and it is a brilliant feeling. Everyone is always friendly. There’s nothing to be nervous about, because everyone has been there on their first day.

 

We wish Zoe the best of luck this weekend at the UK Women’s Snooker Championship, which takes place at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds. Click here for links to tournament information, with the draw and format due to be released this Thursday.