Quarter-Finals Set in Changping
The World Women’s Snooker Championship is down to the quarter-finals stage after the first two knockout rounds of the competition were completed on Saturday at the Changping Gymnasium in Dongguan, China.
With the first four days of the competition having seen the field reduced from 72 to just 32 following the round robin group stage, just eight remain in the race to lift the Mandy Fisher Trophy and guarantee their place on the World Snooker Tour for next season.
Evans Exits, Kamani Makes History
The biggest shock of the tournament so far came on a dramatic evening as record 12-time champion Reanne Evans suffered a 4-1 defeat to China’s Xia Yuyin and exit the competition at the earliest stage of her career.
China’s Xia had impressed throughout the tournament, having taken world number seven Anupama Ramachdran to a deciding-frame during the group stages and hit a break of 70 during a last 32 win against Charlene Chai.
The 26-year-old continued her form against England’s Evans with a break of 68 on her way to a 3-0 lead and although Evans claimed frame four as she threatened a comeback, a missed yellow in the next would prove fatal as Xia cleared to the pink to progress.
Awaiting her in the quarter-finals will be India’s Amee Kamani, who scored a 4-2 win against Narantuya Bayarsaikhan of Mongolia to also reach the final eight of the competition for the first time in her career.
The 32-year-old from Indore had made history earlier in the week as she became the first Indian player to make a century break on the World Women’s Snooker Tour and continued her strong form with victories against Bai Yaru and Bayarsaikhan – a reversal of their meeting at the same event a year ago – to stay in the event.
Bai, Ng Set Up Super Semi
There will be an all-star quarter-final clash between defending champion Bai Yulu and three-time winner Ng On Yee after the pair each progressed through their quarter-final matches on Saturday.
China’s Bai survived a spirited effort from 16-year-old Panchaya Channoi to continue her bid to become the first player to successfully defend the title since Ng On Yee from 2017-2018.
The 21-year-old has been the heaviest scorer throughout the competition so far with 19 breaks over 30 recorded, but had to withstand runs of 74 and 69 from her talented young opponent – who earlier in the day had defeated reigning world seniors champion Tessa Davidson – to keep her hopes alive.
She will next meet world number two Ng who has dropped just one frame from six matches played so far, with a 4-1 success against compatriot Ho Yee Ki enough to secure her passage through to the quarter-finals of the World Championship for an 11th time.
Mink Comeback Earns Ramachandran Clash
World number one Mink Nutcharut survived a scare as she recovered from 0-2 down to overcome China’s Deng Xin Shun and maintain her bid for a second world title following her maiden success in 2022.
The Thai star carried a 100% record through her round robin group and last 32 match against Enmiaoer Li, but encountered tougher resistance against an opponent who had impressed on her debut a year earlier with victories against the likes of Ho Yee Ki, So Man Yan and Narucha Phoemphul.
Ultimately, however, it would be Mink who would prevail as she hit breaks of 92, 65 39 and 31 to reach the last eight for a sixth consecutive year.
She will now face India’s Anupama Ramachandran who has at least matched her run of a year ago following a 4-1 win against Australia’s Jessica Woods at the last 16 stage.
Victory for the 22-year-old, who had also defeated Wing man Shiu at the last 32 stage, means that there will be two players from India at the quarter-final stage of the World Championship for the first time since 2017 when Vidya Pillai and Varsha Sanjeev carried the tricolour.
Kenna v Siripaporn
World number five Rebecca Kenna will taken on 2023 world champion Baipat Siripaporn in a mouthwatering quarter-final in the top half of the draw.
England’s Kenna has completed 26 frames in all so far this week having survived two deciding-frames during her round-robin group stage, before earning victories against Yuk Fan Lau and most notably world number 11 Narucha Phoemphul to keep her hopes alive of a first world title.
Thailand’s Phoemphul had his back from 0-2 down to level their last 16 contest at 2-2, but former professional Kenna retained her composure to reach a seventh World Championship quarter-final.
She will await further Thai opposition in the form of former winner Baipat Siripaporn, who celebrated both progression the last eight and her birthday on Saturday.
The 26-year-old earned victories against Yee Ting Cheung and Chinese debutant Lu Zhao to seal her place in the quarter-finals for the first time since she lifted the title in 2023.
The action continues from Dongguan Changping with all matches from the main competition available to watch via the WPBSA YouTube channel.
Sunday will also see the start of the Under-21 and Seniors World Championships, with Bai Yulu and Tessa Davidson having claimed the titles a year ago.
