Snooker has always been viewed as a men's sport, with women players being considered inferior. However, recent success by Asian female players has resulted in a new generation, and the future for women's Snooker looks bright.
The first women's ranking event in Australia was held in 2019. Nutcharut Woongharuthai was the winner. She is believed be the first woman in Australia to score a 147 break. She was born in 1999.
Chitra Krishnamurthy is another Asian lady snooker player. In 2008, she was the first Indian woman in Australia to win the Australian Open Snooker Championship. She also won the six-red snooker championship in 2011. In 2014, she made her first appearance at the Eden World Ladies Senior Championships. She has also reached the final of the Eden World Ladies Senior Championships.
Reanne Evans, the world's number-one lady snooker player, is Reanne Evans. She has won ten world titles, and is the reigning world champion. She has also received a wildcard invitation to compete on the men's tour for the 2010/11 season. For her contributions to snooker, she was also awarded an MBE.
Reanne Evans was brought up in Dudley West Midlands. She started playing pool at age 14 and has since gone on to become a professional snooker player. She has also won eight billiards, and ball pool titles. She is currently the holder of the World Pool Championship title. She also won the European Masters title and is currently the most successful female pool player in the UK.
Evans, then seven-and-a half months pregnant, won 2006 the ladies world title. She was the first woman to reach the main stages of a ranking event. She qualified to the Wuxi Classic in China televised stages, beating Thepchaiya Nooh (5-4) in a qualifying match.
Evans has been the number one world snooker player for the past ten years. She has won ten titles around the world and was awarded an MBE in recognition of her contribution to snooker. She has been invited as a wildcard to participate in the professional tour 2010/11 season. She will compete in the final stages of the world ranking event in the UK. She will be playing world number two Neil Robertson in the first round.
Reanne McIlroy is, Reanne Evans and Emma Bonney are all great female players. They all were former world number one players, and they are among the most outstanding snooker players in history. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association says there is no barrier for women in snooker. Two women are currently ranked in top 30 of the world rankings for men. But if the next generation of female stars can challenge the world's best players, the future of women's snooker should be bright.
There are many skilled lady snooker player around the world and the future looks bright. The sport is gaining popularity in the United States and in other countries. Mike Dominguez (OX Billiards Seattle) hopes to make the sport more popular in the United States.