Evans above! Reanne makes history after qualifying for final stages of tournament... and it's world No 2 Robertson up next

By Laura Williamson

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She has been banned from playing league snooker in the West Midlands simply for being a woman, but Reanne Evans made history on Tuesday by becoming the first female to qualify for the final stages of a major tournament.

The 27-year-old from Dudley beat Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-4 in Gloucester to set up a last-64 clash against world No 2 Neil Robertson at the Wuxi Classic in China next month.

Evans, who has a daughter Lauren, six, with former partner Mark Allen, earned just £800 for winning her second world title in 2006 while seven-and-a-half months pregnant. She is now guaranteed at least £3,000 from her match against Australia's Robertson, who hit a 147 in his 5-0 win over Mohamed Khairy.

Big time: Reanne Evans will face world No 2 Neil Robertson in China

Big time: Reanne Evans will face world No 2 Neil Robertson in China

Next up: Evans will face Neil Robertson

Next up: Evans will face Neil Robertson

Northern Irishman Allen, who has won the Haikou World Open in China for the past two years, paid out close to £20,000 in fines last year after a litany of misdemeanours, including swearing at a media conference and calling for World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn to resign.

Evans said: 'Hopefully this will show other women what can be done in snooker and there will be more to follow me.

'It's a really big win for me because I have done it on merit. I played well in qualifying and my results there have earned me this chance.

'I've never been to China before but I'm really excited about it now and hopefully it will give me the chance to boost my profile out there.'

Evans became the first woman for 15 years to compete on the main circuit when she was handed a wild card for the 2010-11 World Snooker Tour, but she failed to win a match all season.

She has won nine consecutive ladies' world titles - most recently beating Ronnie O'Sullivan's cousin Maria Catalano in the final last month - but said the victory over Un-Nooh, the world No 69, was 'definitely the best' of her career. Evans came back from 3-0 and 4-3 down to win her first full ranking event.

Speaking at the Crucible in April at a 'Ladies' Day' to promote women's snooker during the World Championship, Evans said: 'There are still clubs around me that won't let women play. That's got to change. The only time women are allowed in those snooker halls is to work behind bars.

'Maria and I had to play a league match and people had to send  letters in to see if we could go in. It was ridiculous.

'Maria works all summer in an ice cream van and only gets to play in  winter months. If she had a little bit of backing she could have more time off to practise.

'She's a very good player - her  mannerisms are like Ronnie's - and she's so natural.'

 

The comments below have not been moderated.

Can anyone tell me why men aren't allowed to play netball? - Billy Sastard , Mansfield, 28/5/2013 ................ They do play netball there are men only and mixed teams It is a minority but that is probably due to men seeing netball as a "Girly" thing to do and choosing not to play themselves, due to the ridicule they would get from other men.

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good luck to her.

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Would be great to see more women in the game. Would spice it up a bit and I'm sure there is a female ronnie somewhere. Maybe rocket reanne who knows :)

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Good on her, how shes banned is beyond me, snookers not one of those sports where there is a physical presence needed like rugby for example so there is an obvious reason why women and men do not play together but snookers a technical sport and women have the ability to be just as good if not better than men at it, can only be good for the game i say!

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Good on her

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Please ...WHY do some women. Feel the need to compete with men we are different like it or not its a fact ..why people try to defy nature law makes me laugh just don't burn your bra on the snicker table lol

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..about time too.

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Well done gal.

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Hope you beat him and show them all just what a talent you really are.

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Good for you! Snooker is one of the few games where there is a level playing field so there is no reason women shouldn't excel.

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