Evans above! Reanne makes history after qualifying for final stages of tournament... and it's world No 2 Robertson up next
|
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
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.'
- Revealed: Neymar's secret plan to gain revenge on England...
- Trigger happy chums: Naughton is second Premier League...
- Chelsea confirm Benitez exit... and they're already building...
- Welcome aboard: Toure completes free switch to Liverpool...
- Monaco splash the cash again! Falcao set to join French...
- Bale's better than Neymar and would listen to any offer from...
- What a farce: Cole captains England despite foul-mouthed...
- Bayern conquered Europe and have now knocked Man United off...
- Brighton and Wigan on alert as Meulensteen quits United...
- First One Direction, now Rihanna! Ronaldo meets pop icon...
- VIDEO SPECIAL: They've got the moves like Jaguar!...
- Amazing picture of Ferdinand's #5 abs... Stomach muscle in...
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.
- Liam , Manchester, United Kingdom, 29/5/2013 08:36
Report abuse