Women's world championships

[snookerdad]

REANNE Evans is hoping for the joy of six at the women’s world snooker championships which kick off in Cambridge on Saturday (April 3).

The phenomenal 24-year-old, from Dudley, West Midlands, has already claimed a record five straight World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association world titles.

And she has won her last 57 matches on the WLBSA circuit.

Paul Wood is sponsoring the £1,000 five-day jamboree at Cambridge Snooker Centre

Evans, the number one seed, begins her campaign on Monday in the last-16

Keen to secure a first world title is world number two Maria Catalano, Ronnie O’Sullivan 28-year-old cousin.

Among the overseas players are Chitra Magimairaj (India), Natascha Niermann (Germany), Laura Alves (Dublin), Tatjana Vasiljeva (Latvia), and Hong Kong pair Yu Ching Ching and Jaique Ip Wan In.

The round-robin group stages will be played on Saturday and Sunday. Qualifiers meet the eight seeded players in the last-16 on Monday. The final is on Wednesday at 1.30pm.

Hannah Jones, 13, from Derby, will be bidding for a hat-trick of Junior titles on Sunday.

Non-qualifiers from the round-robins meet in the Plate on Monday. The following day it’s the Mixed Pairs. On Wednesday, the Seniors and Doubles come to a conclusion.

Billiards takes centre stage on Thursday at the Hall Green Stadium, Birmingham. Four-time champion Emma Bonney, from Portsmouth, is chasing a third successive title in the £1,000 event, also sponsored by Paul Wood.

Tim Dunkley (WLBSA press officer)

[noel]

TIM...
Will the, probably, historic Women's Final be streamed?

[ I wonder what Mark will be thinking... as a World title will likely be something he will never achieve himself ]



=o)

Noel

[wyt147]

Hi Noel, there isn't an internet connection at the club. I spoke to the owner when I was there a couple of visits ago and he said he would put a line in but when I went back a line hadn't been installed and I doubt it will be.

I may try to set up a USB 3G connection but won't promise anything. If I get a satisfactory stream then I will publish it up here.

[wyt147]

Nope no t'internet

Groups have been written up and are here.

http://www.worldladiessnooker.co.uk/results.html

Any other information will be posted here.

Cheers.

[whufcarl]

Can the finals be recorded and then posted on the internet?
Im sure there are a lot of ppl who would want to see these.
If it costs to do this then you could charge people £1 each to download it?

[Monique]

Here are pictures from day 1: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53191&id=1066660939&l=1c37431233

I've also been conducting little on the spot interviews. Should be available tomorrow.
Also results can be found here: http://www.worldladiessnooker.co.uk/results.html

[jaguarf1]

are the results correct?
http://www.worldladiessnooker.co.uk/results.html
There are two draws in Group D (P1-P2; P1-P4). It must be a mistake.

[wyt147]

Thanks for the spot Jaguarf1. My mistake, I have corrected it now. :)

[Monique]

Yesterday's highlights were:

Both Jasmine Bolsover (10) and Hannah Jones (13) qualified for the knock-out stage of the main event, the Ladies World Championship. Jasmine is so small she can't even respot the brown....
Hannah won the Junior Ladies World Championship, beating Jasmine in the final.

Heartfelt congratulations to both girls.

On a lighter note, the "on the spot" interviews are good fun. I still have do do the seeds...
And there was a ladies players vs referees "challenge" in the evening. I couldn't stay alas and take pics. But I made a few pics of the refs practising. This is done every year since ... I forgot ... but the refs never won it until now ;)

Today the seeds will enter the fray and the plate event gets underway as well.

pictures from day 2 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53344&id=1066660939&l=26758c2e54

[Monique]

Pictures from day 3 here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53442&id=1066660939&l=bb6e9df40a

No real surprises in the main event: semi finals will be played today and will be
Reanne Evans vs Katie Henrick
Maria Catalano vs Emma Bonney

The quarter between Katie Henrick and June Banks was a really hard fought gripping match that went to the final pink in the decider. For anyone who liked the 80th style matchplay and full scale tactical battles this was it.

Tatjana Vasileva from Latvia won the plate competion, Vicky Asby being runner up.

Today also we'll have the mixed doubles. Joe Perry, Michael Holt (defending with Reanne), Stuart Bingham and Martin Gould are expected.

[Tom Read]

Never knew it was held there, didn't know anything about it to be fair!

I played at the Cambridge Snooker Centre the other week in a league match - what a stunning place it is too!

[MattWilson]

Ha ha Tom, that's a good one!

I played there in the Pro-Ticket Tour earlier this year and the tables, shall we say, leave a little to be desired!

MW

[Suzie]

TMy mistake, I have corrected it now. :)

TUT TUT!!! :rolleyes:

[wyt147]

TUT TUT!!! :rolleyes:

Now now...:) How's the arm?

[Suzie]

Fine and dandy thanks, who's in the mixed doubles? Alex and I were going to play but I couldn't really take the time off work, wasn't sure who was entering and if it was worth it

[noel]

Pictures from day 3 here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53442&id=1066660939&l=bb6e9df40aNo real surprises in the main event: semi finals will be played today and will be
Reanne Evans vs Katie Henrick
Maria Catalano vs Emma Bonney


Thanks for the info Mon...
damn shame this isn't web streamed [ for the good exposure for Women's Snook ] !!
Thanks for the photos Mon... in picture #3 your depth-of-field perfectly
captures in the balls exactly what I see when I line up to take a shot!

Wish I could be there!


=o)

Noel

[wyt147]

Reanne and Michael Holt have just lost in the semi final of the Mixed Doubles to Martin Gould and Pam Wood 3-1.

Jo Perry and Tatjana have beaten Tina Owen-Sevilton & Brian Harvey 3-0.

[wyt147]

Martin Gould and Pam Wood 2-0 up on Jo Perry and Tatjana.


In the main event semi final:

Katie Henrick is 2-0 up on Reanne Evans

Maria Catalano is 2-0 up on Emma Bonney

[ore]

Martin Gould and Pam Wood 2-0 up on Jo Perry and Tatjana.


In the main event semi final:

Katie Henrick is 2-0 up on Reanne Evans

Maria Catalano is 2-0 up on Emma Bonney

Go Tatjana! ;)

If it's first-to-3, is there to be a new women's WC?

[wyt147]

It is first to 4

In the mixed doubles Martin had 67 followed by 68 clearance from Joe for Joe and Tatjana to bring the scores level at 2-2

Reanne has just made an awesome 33 clearance to bring the score back to 2-1

Maria is close to a win over Emma

[jaguarf1]

In the mixed doubles Martin had 67 followed by 68 clearance from Joe for Joe and Tatjana to bring the scores level at 2-2


It would be nice, if You could post the frame results after the match is finished. :)

[wyt147]

It would be nice, if You could post the frame results after the match is finished. :)

Sorry about the scores but I have to wait for the sheet at the end and my youngest nicked the computer to play on a Barbie site... :S

Here they are:

Pam Wood/ Martin Gould v Tatjana Vasiljeva/ Joe Perry

Fr1: 105 - 0 (Martin Gould 105 break)
Fr2: 67 - 22 (Martin Gould 42 break)
Fr3: 41 - 51
Fr4: 67 - 68 (Martin Gould 67 break, Joe Perry 68 clearance)
Fr5: 1 - 97 (Joe Perry 62 break)

[wyt147]

Maria 58 up against Emma with 35 on. Looks like 4-2 to Maria and she is into the final.

At 2-0 down Katie was playing really well but 2 massive escapes from 40+ down in the next 2 frames and Reanne has pulled it back to 2-2.

[jaguarf1]

Sorry about the scores but I have to wait for the sheet at the end and my youngest nicked the computer to play on a Barbie site... :S

Here they are:

Pam Wood/ Martin Gould v Tatjana Vasiljeva/ Joe Perry

Fr1: 105 - 0 (Martin Gould 105 break)
Fr2: 67 - 22 (Martin Gould 42 break)
Fr3: 41 - 51
Fr4: 67 - 68 (Martin Gould 67 break, Joe Perry 68 clearance)
Fr5: 1 - 97 (Joe Perry 62 break)

Thank You for the scores and breaks. At least some extra info I can add to my article. :)

[wyt147]

Katie has taken a tough game to go 3-2 up against Reanne

[Black_cat]

C'mon, Maria! Into the final! *Woop-woop!*:)

[wyt147]

Reanne stepped up a gear to take the next frame comfortably 3-3

[wyt147]

Reanne prevailed in the final frame with a large break 78 ish according to Hannah...

Reanne v Maria in tomorrows final.

[jaguarf1]

Reanne prevailed in the final frame with a large break 78 ish according to Hannah...

Reanne v Maria in tomorrows final.

So, all todays matches are finished...

Do You have an information if Vasiljeva is also taking part in Ladies Doubles tomorrow?

[snookerdad]

Yes she is. And she's hoping for a hat-trick.

Tim

[jaguarf1]

Yes she is. And she's hoping for a hat-trick.

Tim

Thanks for the info.

[snookerdad]

Reanne Evans and Maria Catalano meet in the best-of-nine final at 1.30pm today at Cambridge Snooker Centre.

There are already a handful of TSF members at the club.

Come and meet the official WLBSA photographer Monique Limbos.

Will Reanne win a record sixth straight title or will Maria at last claim the trophy she yearns for.

Tim

[Monique]

and pictures are here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53554&id=1066660939&l=3be650b5d1

Worth to mention the excellent and very enjoyable mixed doubles event.
Joe, Tatjana, Pam and Martin... you were awsome!

[wyt147]

Maria Catalano went 1-0 up
Reanne has responded with a 56 and 45 in the 2nd 1-1

[jaguarf1]

only one match in Ladies Doubles? :eek:

[wyt147]

Reanne just cleared with 68 to go 2-1 up against Maria.


Only 1 doubles match because people are saving their money and cutting down on the tournaments they entered,

[wyt147]

Reanne has knocked in a 52 break to take the 4th frame.

Interval now.

[Mr P]

Thanks for the updates mate - keep them up!

[wyt147]

Tighter cagey frame which Reanne wins on the blue to go 4-1 up.

[wyt147]

Thanks for the updates mate - keep them up!

Not a problem. I only wish we were able to stream the final. Fingers crossed for next year.

[Mr P]

I'm guessing your sending these updates from your mobile phone?

[wyt147]

62 break from Reanne in the 6th frame missed a long blue which rolled off. Still enough on the table for Maria but she needs to change gear now.

[wyt147]

Nope, final over Reanne wins hers 6th title and completes a season by winning all of the events.

Well done Reanne and commiserations to Maria who must be wondering what she needs to do to beat Reanne.

[ore]

If there was betting on snooker women WC, how much shorter odds than Ronnie Reannie would have?
Maybe something like 1.10 already before the tournament? :)

[wyt147]

I'm guessing your sending these updates from your mobile phone?

Nope I am on the computer and using a 3G connection but have to run in and out of the snooker room to keep track and report back.

[wyt147]

Frame scores:

Final

Reanne Evans v Maria Catalano
06-67
(56,45)101-06
(69) 74-24
(52) 70-32
(45) 70-51
(62) 95-27

[Mignon]

Congratulations to all the winners!

Thanks for all the updates.
BTW: who won the World Seniors' event, Eva Palmius or June Banks?

[wyt147]

June has literally JUST won the World Ladies Seniors 3-1 against Eva Palmius. That completes this years World Ladies Snooker Championships.

World Ladies Champ - Reanne Evans
World Junior Champ - Hannah Jones
World Senior Champ - June Banks
World Doubles Champs - Tatjana & Maureen Rowland
World Mixed Doubles Champs - Joe Perry and Tatjana
World Plate Champ - Tatjana


The World Ladies Billiards is played to a finish tomorrow at Hall Green Stadium in Birmingham, only 8 runners. The event starts at 11am played over hour and a half matches and will be TD'd by Clive Scott. Here is the draw.

Emma Bonney (current champ)
Tina Owen-Sevilton

Joanne Davies
Jan Hughes

Maureen Rowland
Eva Palmius

Chitra Magimairaj - (previous champ)
Hannah Jones

[snookerdad]

REANNE Evans has again raised the bar in women’s snooker by winning the world title for a record sixth year running (on Wednesday, April 7).

The undisputed world number one racked up six breaks of more than 40 in a 5-1 demolition of good friend Maria Catalano in the final at Cambridge Snooker Centre.

In a blistering display of break building, after losing the first frame, Evans compiled runs of 56, 45, 69, 52, 45 and 62.

It is now 61 matches since the 24-year-old mother-of-one, from Dudley, West Midlands, last tasted defeat on the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association circuit.

This season she has won all six ranking events and the Wytech Masters.

She collected £1,000, courtesy of sponsor Paul Wood, for clinching her 23rd ranking title.

“It’s the most I’ve ever won for winning a tournament,” said Evans.

“It’s brilliant. Doing the clean sweep has put the icing on the cake.

“It’s going to take some beating by whoever comes up in the future. Hopefully, I’ve set the bar high enough.

“In the first frame I was all over the place. I knew I was cueing well so I calmed down a bit and it worked.

“Maria’s playing better and cueing a lot sweeter but she missed a couple to let me in.

“That’s what you get from playing men. You get punished all day long so you learn from that. You don’t want to keep picking balls out so you try and punish them when they miss.”

Evans believes the top of the women’s game is now like that, with players such as Catalano, June Banks, Katie Henrick and Emma Bonney.

And she picked out ten-year-old rising star Jasmine Bolsover as the possible heir to her throne.

“Jasmine looks brilliant. She’s probably going to be the one to take over. And, obviously, you’ve got Hannah (Jones) as well.

“I’ll walk before she starts making 50s,” she laughed.

In the semi-finals, world number four Henrick, 29, came close to finally breaking Evans’ remarkable run.

However, Evans fought back from 2-0 and 3-2 down, and wrapped up the decider with a 78.

“She played really well,” said Evans. “In the first three frames, I didn’t really see a ball. It was the best I’ve seen her play.”

Despite the Henrick onslaught, Evans insisted defeat never crossed her mind.

“You’ve still got to believe you can win,” she said. “You’ve got more confidence than anyone else but there’s also more pressure on you.

“Everybody wants you to lose; they’re all trying their hardest to beat you. You’ve just got to maintain that standard.”

The newly crowned champion is planning to spend the prize money on a holiday in Ibiza with three-year-old daughter Lauren.

Round-robin breaks:

Yu Ching Ching: 62, 46.
Hannah Jones: 40
Eva Palmius: 35
Chitra Magimairaj: 32

KNOCKOUT (breaks)

LAST-16: Reanne Evans (53) beat Natascha Niermann 3-0, Chitra Magimairaj beat Jenny Poulter 3-0, Katie Henrick (67) beat Tatjana Vasiljeva (37) 3-1, June Banks beat Pam Wood 3-0, Emma Bonney (44) beat Jasmine Bolsover 3-0, Yu Ching Ching beat Chris Sharpe 3-1, Suzie Opacic beat Eva Palmius 3-2, Maria Catalano (48) beat Hannah Jones 3-0.

QUARTER-FINALS (£150): Evans beat Magimairaj 4-0, Henrick beat Banks 4-3, Bonney beat Yu 4-1, Catalano (61, 56, 37, 36, 31) beat Opacic 4-1.

SEMI-FINALS (£250): Evans (78) beat Henrick (49, 42) 4-3, Catalano (37, 32) beat Bonney (35) 4-2.

FINAL (£1,000/£500): Evans beat Catalano 5-1.
Frame scores, Evans first: 6-67, 101(56, 45)-6, 74(69)-24, 70(52)-32, 70(45)-51, 95(62)-27.
Referee: Vic Hartley.

PLATE

TATJANA Vasiljeva, Latvia’s number one woman player, clinched the Plate trophy at her first WLBSA world championships.

Vasiljeva, 26, who is coached twice a year by Terry Griffiths in Wales, defeated Vicky Ashby 2-0 in the final.

“He’s a great coach,” she said. “I like Britain so much.”

RESULTS (breaks):

ROUND 1: Marianne Williams beat Maureen Rowland 2-0, Martina Lumsden beat Jan Hughes 2-0, Gaye Jones beat Naomi Clare 2-0, Vicky Ashby beat Joanne Davies 2-1, Jaique Ip Wan In beat Tina Owen-Sevilton 2-1.

ROUND 2: Lumsden beat Natascha Niermann 2-0, Williams beat Hannah Jones 2-1, Ashby beat Jenny Poulter 2-0, Chris Sharpe beat Gaye Jones 2-0, Ip Wan In beat Pam Wood 2-0, Jasmine Bolsover beat Laura Alves 2-1.

QUARTER-FINALS: Ip Wan In beat Williams 2-1, Tatjana Vasiljeva beat Martina Lumsden 2-1, Ashby beat Bolsover 2-0, Sharpe beat Palmius 2-0.

SEMI-FINALS: Vasiljeva beat Ip Wan In 2-0, Ashby beat Sharpe 2-0.

FINAL: Vasiljeva beat Ashby 2-0.

JUNIORS

PRE-tournament favourite Hannah Jones lived up to her billing by claiming the World Ladies Junior title for the third year running.

The Derby schoolgirl, 13, defeated ten-year-old Jasmine Bolsover, from Woking, 2-0 in the final.

Jones said: “I was very pleased to win it. Before the match, I thought Jasmine was going to win because her potting was amazing.

“I played at a level higher because I was determined to win.”

RESULTS

ROUND-ROBIN: Hannah Jones beat Jasmine Bolsover 2-0, Joanne Davies beat Naomi Clare 2-1, Jones beat Davies 2-0, Bolsover beat Clare 2-0, Bolsover beat Davies 2-1, Jones beat Clare 2-0.

FINAL: Jones beat Bolsover 2-0.

SENIORS (aged 40 and over)

JUNE Banks, making her first appearance on the WLBSA circuit this season due to work commitments, defeated Eva Palmius 3-1 to retain the World Ladies Seniors title.

Banks, 41, from Orpington, Kent, who had slipped to 14th in the rankings, climbs three places to 11th.

RESULTS

PRELIMS: Jan Hughes beat Laura Alves 3-0, Pam Wood beat Maureen Rowland 3-1.

QUARTER-FINALS: Hughes beat Wood 3-2, June Banks beat Marianne Williams 3-1, Chris Sharpe beat Jenny Poulter 3-1, Eva Palmius beat Gaye Jones 3-0.

SEMI-FINALS: Banks beat Hughes 3-0, Palmius beat Sharpe 3-2.

FINAL: Banks beat Palmius 3-1.

MIXED DOUBLES

TATJANA Vasiljeva insisted world No 12 Joe Perry is “the best” after the pair claimed the Mixed Doubles trophy.

Vasiljeva and Perry edged past Pam Wood and Martin Gould 3-2 in a high-scoring final.

Leading 2-1 and on a break of 67, world No 46 Gould, who had compiled a 105 in the first frame, missed a long red for the match.

Perry replied with a 68 clearance to win by one point on the black - and he wrapped up the decider with a 62.

“We dodged a couple of bullets but we won the last one nice and easy,” said Perry.

“We thought it was all over. Then you get a chance so you just try and grab it with both hands. I felt really relaxed and just knocked them in. You don’t think too much about it; you just do what you’ve got to do.”

Vasiljeva said: “I had huge pressure after the first frame when I made a bad safety shot and (Gould) made a 105 break.”

And Perry, who vowed to return next year to defend the trophy, added: “The pressure for me is I don’t want to let Tatjana down.

“We’re worthy winners; we deserved it; we’re a good team.”

Wood and Gould knocked out defending champions Reanne Evans and Michael Holt in the last-four.

RESULTS (breaks)

QUARTER-FINALS: Pam Wood & Martin Gould (61, 55) beat Chris & Brian Sharpe 3-0, Tina Owen-Sevilton & Brian Harvey beat Natascha Niermann & Tim Dunkley 3-1.

SEMI-FINALS: Wood & Gould (67) beat Reanne Evans & Michael Holt 3-1, Tatjana Vasiljeva & Joe Perry (46) beat Owen-Sevilton & Harvey 3-0.

FINAL (£200/£100): Vasiljeva & Perry (68, 62) beat Wood & Gould (105, 42, 67) 3-2.

LADIES DOUBLES

BLUSHING bride Maureen Rowland capped her honeymoon by winning the World Ladies Doubles with Tatjana Vasiljeva.

Maureen Logan, as was, ‘ran away’ to Gretna Green with fiancé Dave Rowland, 55, two days before setting off for the women’s world snooker championships.

After being married in Gretna’s famous blacksmith’s shop, the lovebirds honeymooned at Cambridge Snooker Centre.

Rowland, 56, from Wallsend, Tyne & Wear, lost three stones prior to the wedding.
The 2-0 victory over Pam Wood and Laura Alves completed a hat-trick for Latvian Vasiljeva. The 26-year-old also won the Plate and the Mixed Doubles.

RESULT

FINAL: Tatjana Vasiljeva & Maureen Rowland beat Pam Wood & Laura Alves 2-0.

The 2010 WLBSA World Billiards Championship will be held on Thursday, April 8, starting at 11am, at:

Stadium Snooker Club
Hall Green Stadium
York Road
Hall Green
Birmingham
B28 8LQ
Tel: 08708 407380

CAMBRIDGE DIARY

Pam Wood’s missing cue

A FRANTIC three-day search for her beloved Cedric ruined world No 21 Pam Wood’s build-up to the women’s world snooker championships.

The 41-year-old from Newcastle left her favourite cue, nicknamed Cedric, leaning against the boot of her car as she left her local club – and then drove off.

One hour before catching the train to Cambridge, Wood received a phone call from the club saying it had been handed in.

Referees v Ladies match

LADIES captain Jan Hughes is being forced to send out for fresh supplies of wooden spoons.

For the third year running, the ladies took on a team of referees after the first day’s round-robin matches. And for the third year running, Hughes presented a wooden spoon to referees captain Colin Selby after a 683-545 aggregate points victory.

Selby admitted: “We were stuffed.”

Dressed to kill (and guess who’s dying)

NATASCHA Niermann was dressed to kill for the mixed pairs. And a former professional is in her firing line.

Wearing a short skirt (a size too small), red stockings and high-heeled black boots, Niermann was less than impressed when she was stood up minutes before the event kicked off.

And the eight-time German national champion was distinctly underwhelmed when the WLBSA’s press officer was offered up as a replacement.

Martin Gould’s trick shot

STORIES circulate about this shot but few people have actually witnessed it.

In the third frame of the Mixed Doubles final, Middlesex professional Martin Gould slammed a red towards the left-hand top corner pocket.

It hit the jaws, jumped onto the top of the cushion, rolled along the rail and fell into the middle pocket.

Youngest qualifier

AT the tender age of ten years and 110 days, Woking’s pint-sized potter Jasmine Bolsover beat Yu Ching Ching to become the youngest to qualify for the knockout stage of a women’s world championship.

Tim Dunkley (WLBSA press officer)

[ore]

Dressed to kill (and guess who’s dying)

NATASCHA Niermann was dressed to kill for the mixed pairs. And a former professional is in her firing line.

Wearing a short skirt (a size too small), red stockings and high-heeled black boots, Niermann was less than impressed when she was stood up minutes before the event kicked off.

And the eight-time German national champion was distinctly underwhelmed when the WLBSA’s press officer was offered up as a replacement.


How bad was this?

[hotpot]

Thanks for the updates , must have been hard work

[wyt147]

No problem. It is just tiring back and forth, the lights the headaches - oh woe is me...:)

Anyway we left Cambridge last night and have travelled to Birmingham for the World Ladies Billiards.

Results up on World Ladies Snooker. Shouldn't take long as there are only 8 entrants.

For the forum though here are the latest result: Hannah led the 2007 World Champion right to the last 10 minutes when Chitra knocked in a 46 break. That would have been a major upset. As it is business as usual on the tables.

World Ladies Billiards 2010

Quarter Finals
(37) Emma Bonney 357 v 212 Tina Owen Sevilton
Joanne Davies 162 v 172 Jan Hughes
Maureen Rowland 129 v 201 Eva Palmius
Hannah Jones 225 v 261 Chitra Magimairaj (46)

Semi Final
Emma Bonney v Jan Hughes
Eva Palmius v Chitra Magimairaj

Final


----------------------------------------------------------------------
World Ladies Billiards Plate 2010

Semi Final
Tina Owen Sevilton v Hannah Jones
Joanne Davies v Maureen Rowland

[Monique]

Some pictures from day 5 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53663&id=1066660939&l=a98f3839c4
(a few more to come)

and news from today: As expected Emma Bonney won the Billiards World Champ. :)

[wyt147]

Some pictures from day 5 http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=53663&id=1066660939&l=a98f3839c4
(a few more to come)

and news from today: As expected Emma Bonney won the Billiards World Champ. :)

Yes she did in a close contest.

Tina Owen-Sevilton beat Joanne Davies in the plate final as well.

[snookerdad]

PORTSMOUTH’S Emma Bonney continued her domination of women’s billiards by claiming her fifth world title at the Hall Green Stadium, Birmingham (on Thursday, April 8).

The 33-year-old edged past Indian star Chitra Magimairaj 269-220 in the 90-minute final.

Bonney, who defeated 2006 and 2007 champion Magimairaj in last year’s final in Cambridge, collected £400 from Paul Wood, sponsor of the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association’s world championships.

She said: “I’m certainly pleased to have beaten Chitra again. I know Chitra is a good player and comes all the way over from India. That’s her main game.”

Two days after being knocked out of the women’s world snooker championships at the semi-final stage in Cambridge, the Queen of the South headed north in a bid to clinch the three-ball trophy for the third year running.

At one point Magimairaj led by 60. But Bonney clawed back the deficit with 20 minutes left and held a slim 25-point lead with five minutes to go.

“We both had a couple of flukes,” admitted Bonney. “She had one quite near the end. I thought she might take advantage of it and go on and make a break and win. But she didn’t.”

Magimairaj, who pocketed £200, also picked up the £50 high-break prize for a timely run of 46 at the end of her quarter-final match against 13-year-old Hannah Jones. The break averted a major upset as Jones had been leading up to the last ten minutes.

Bonney, who “loves” her new job in Boots in the centre of Portsmouth, was forced to turn down a place on the English-Billiards Open Series, which tours venues around Europe, because of the expense.

“I’d just like to be able to play in some tournaments and improve my game,” she said. “I tend to go all year without really playing much billiards, which obviously isn’t very good. It’s difficult with the money situation and having to work.”

But she was grateful to be playing in a sponsored event.

“Paul Wood, the guy who’s put the money up, is absolutely brilliant and he loves billiards. And he lays on a lovely lunch as well!” she laughed.

The tournament was officiated by Clive Scott and his team of referees from the English Amateur Billiards Association.

RESULTS (breaks)

QUARTER-FINALS (£50): Emma Bonney (37) beat Tina Owen-Sevilton 357-212, Jan Hughes beat Joanne Davies 172-162, Eva Palmius beat Maureen Rowland 201-129, Chitra Magimairaj (46) beat Hannah Jones 261-225.

SEMI-FINALS (£100): Bonney (45) beat Hughes 448-89, Magimairaj (45, 42) beat Palmius 313-186.

FINAL (£400/£200): Bonney (36) beat Magimairaj (42) 269-220.

PLATE

SEMI-FINALS: Owen-Sevilton beat Jones 137-75, Davies beat Rowland 108-54.

FINAL: Owen-Sevilton beat Davies 273-99.

ENTRY LIST

Emma Bonney (Portsmouth); Chitra Magimairaj (India); Tina Owen-Sevilton (Taunton); Hannah Jones (Derby); Joanne Davies (Derby); Maureen Rowland (Wallsend, Tyne & Wear); Jan Hughes (St Neots, Cambs); Eva Palmius (Isleham, Cambs).

Tim Dunkley (WLBSA press officer)