Bonneys nap hand

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.

Champion Emma Bonney

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.

Runner-up Chitra Magimairaj

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.

Pictures by Monique Limbos