Masterful Evans survives late-night drama

WOMEN’S snooker star Reanne Evans admitted she was “drained” after retaining the Wytech Masters trophy in a dramatic late-night battle with Katie Henrick

Wytech Masters champion Reanne Evans, daughter Lauren and sponsor Mark Jones

Three women world champions from three different cue sports appeared at the invitation-only event, sanctioned by the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association, at the North East Derbyshire SC, Clay Cross, on Saturday, September 13.

Kent-based world number three Henrick twice took the lead in the best-of-five final but Evans twice levelled with breaks of 59.

At a quarter-to-one in the morning, Evans, the four-time world champion from Dudley, fluked the brown in the decider and cleared up.

“We were drained,” said the 22-year-old mother-of-one who pocketed £529. “I think we both played quite well, considering how late it was. Everybody seems to have improved a bit.

“They must be fed up of me winning now.” she laughed. “I feel confident; I’m playing quite well – for the time being, anyway.”

Evans heads to Austria next month to defend her IBSF world title.

Tournament sponsor Mark Jones, MD of Midlands IT company Wytech, said: “It was a very long day but it was fantastic. There was a lot of appreciation from the players. It went on too long but that’s something we can look at next year.”

World 8-ball pool champion Lynette Horsburgh, from Blackpool, and world billiards champion Emma Bonney, from Portsmouth, both went out 3-2 to Henrick.

Newcastle’s Pam Wood was taken ill minutes after clearing the colours to lead Maureen Logan 2-0 in the first round.

She was rushed to hospital where a scan revealed a two millimetre kidney stone and she was discharged later that day.

The 39-year-old legal secretary picked up a £10 bonus for the highest break of the round.

Matches were streamed live by Wytech on globalsnookercentre.co.uk. Prize money totalled £1,419.

Wytech Masters results (breaks):

ROUND 1 (£20): Sarah Smith bt Joanne Davies 3-0, Gaye Jones bt Marianne Williams 3-1, Maureen Logan w/o Pam Wood, Lynette Horsburgh bt Eva Palmius 3-0.

ROUND 2 (£30): Smith (45, 45, 30) bt Vicky Ashby 3-0, Chris Sharpe bt G Jones 3-1, Hannah Jones bt Logan 3-0, Horsburgh bt Suzie Opacic (31) 3-2.

QUARTER-FINALS (£65): Reanne Evans (38, 32, 33) bt Smith 3-1, Maria Catalano (46) bt Sharpe 3-1, Emma Bonney bt H Jones 3-0, Katie Henrick (31) bt Horsburgh 3-2.

SEMI-FINALS (£100): Evans (43) bt Catalano (40) 3-1, Henrick bt Bonney (36) 3-2.

FINAL (£450/£200): Evans (59, 59) bt Henrick 3-2.

£10 high break awards:

Round 1: Pam Wood (27), round 2: Sarah Smith (45), quarter-finals: Maria Catalano (46), semi-finals: Reanne Evans (43), final: Evans (59).

Pound-a-point overall highest break:

Evans (59).

Picture by Mark Jones