Evans back on top of the world

REANNE Evans has regained the world number one spot in women’s snooker.

A decisive victory in the South Coast Classic took the four-time world champion from Dudley back to the top of the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association’s rankings.

Plate winner Hannah Jones (left) holding sister Ellie & Reanne Evans holding daughter Lauren

Evans beat Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 26-year-old cousin Maria Catalano 3-0 in the final at the Q Ball Snooker Club, Eastbourne.

 

In fact, the 23-year-old did not drop a frame in the fourth ranking event of the season.

 

In the semi-finals, Evans missed the green on 95 to wrap up a 3-0 victory over Katie Henrick.

 

Portsmouth’s Emma Bonney, who took the number one spot with victory in the British Open in Newmarket in November, fired in a 77 in the second frame of a 3-1 semi-final defeat by Maria Catalano.

 

Evans said: “I thought I was way in front but I’m happy to be back to number one now.

 

“It’s good to be ladies number one but I want to play on the men’s (circuit). I do need to improve but I’m cueing OK.”

 

Catalano said: “She played well. I had a few chances but didn’t take them. It’s a bonus to get to the final. I haven’t been practising much so I suppose I should be happy with what I’ve done.”

 

Evans, who won the inaugural EASB Ladies Tour event in Leeds on February 1, heads to St Petersburg, Russia, next month with Catalano for the European Team Championships.

 

Derby schoolgirl Hannah Jones, 12, doubled the black off the cushion in the deciding frame of the Plate final to become the youngest in WLBSA history to clinch a senior title.

 

WLBSA chairman Mandy Fisher said: “Hannah is the youngest person to have won anything in the WLBSA by a mile.”

 

Supanni Yam-Oum, a director of SR Cues Ltd based in Ashford, Kent, donated a handmade £380 cue to Evans.

 

Making her WLBSA debut, Yam-Oum, originally from Thailand and now living in Canterbury, started playing snooker in November aged 56.

 

She said she “loved” the event and added: “If you can’t play snooker you can’t sell the cues.”

 

The WLBSA South Coast Classic attracted a 21-strong field. 

 

It was the fourth of six WLBSA ranking events this season. Following the Connie Gough National Championship in Luton in March, Cambridge Snooker Centre hosts the World Championships in April. Evans will be bidding for a record fifth straight world title.

 

RESULTS:

 

FIRST ROUND: Hannah Jones bt Marianne Williams 3-2, Martina Lumsden bt Jan Hughes 3-1, Gaye Jones bt Laura Alves 3-2, Vicky Ashby bt Supanni Yam-Oum 3-0, Stacey Hancock bt Maureen Logan 3-0.

 

LAST 16: Emma Bonney bt H Jones 3-0, Eva Palmius bt Sue Selby 3-0, Jenny Poulter bt Naomi Clare 3-0, Maria Catalano bt Lumsden 3-0, Katie Henrick bt G Jones 3-1, Chris Sharpe bt Ashby 3-1, Suzie Opacic bt Wendy Jenkins 3-0, Reanne Evans bt Hancock 3-0.

 

QUARTER-FINALS: Bonney bt Palmius 3-0, Catalano bt Poulter 3-1, Henrick bt Sharpe 3-0, Evans bt Opacic 3-0.

 

SEMI-FINALS (£75): Catalano bt Bonney (77) 3-1, Evans (95) bt Henrick 3-0.

 

FINAL (£300/£150): Evans bt Catalano 3-0.

 

PLATE

 

FIRST ROUND: H Jones bt Clare 2-0, Hughes bt Alves 2-0, Lumsden bt G Jones 2-1, Ashby bt Jenkins 2-0, Selby bt Logan 2-0,

 

QUARTER-FINALS: H Jones bt Yam-Oum 2-0, Hancock bt Hughes 2-0, Ashby bt Selby 2-1, Williams bt Lumsden 2-0.

 

SEMI-FINAL: H Jones bt Hancock 2-1, Ashby bt Williams 2-0.

 

FINAL: H Jones bt Ashby 2-1.

 

Next ranking events:

 

Connie Gough National Championship

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Rileys

Unit 2 Britannia Estate

Leagrave Road

Luton

LU3 1RJ

Tel: 01582 731315

 

2009 World Championship

April 4-9, 2009

Cambridge Snooker Centre

Coldhams Road

Cambridge

CB1 3EW

Tel: 01223 249661

Picture by Mark Jones