Snooker was traditionally viewed as a male-only game. Female players were often considered inferior. However, recent success by Asian female players has resulted in a new generation, and the future for women's Snooker looks bright.
In 2019, Australia held the first women’s ranking event. Nutcharut Woongharuthai was the winner. She is believed be the first woman in Australia to score a 147 break. She was born in 1999 and is eligible to play on the next season of the World Snooker Tour.
Chitra Krishnamurthy is another Asian lady snooker player. She was the first Indian woman to win Australian Open Snooker Championship (2008). She also won the six-red snooker championship in 2011. In 2014, her first appearance in the Eden World Ladies Senior Championships took place. She has also reached the final of the Eden World Ladies Senior Championships.
Reanne Evan is the world's top lady snooker players. She has won ten international titles and is the current world champion. In addition, she was invited to compete on the men’s tour during the 2010/11 season as a wildcard. She has also been awarded an MBE for her services to snooker.
Reanne Evans was born in Dudley, West Midlands. Reanne Evans started playing pool when she was 14 years old and has been a professional player of snooker ever since. She has won eight titles in billiards or ball pool, as well as snooker. She currently holds the title of World Pool Champion. She has won the European Masters, and she is the most successful woman player in the UK.
Evans was seven-and-a-half months pregnant when she won the ladies' world title in 2006. She was also the first woman to make it to the main stages of a ranking tournament. She was able to qualify for the Wuxi Classic in China's televised stages and defeated Thepchaiya U-Nooh of Thailand 5-4 in a qualifying match.
Evans has been world number one for the past ten year. She has been awarded ten world titles, and an MBE for her contributions to snooker. She was also granted a wildcard invitation to participate on the professional tour in the 2010/11 season. She will compete at the UK's final stages for the world ranking. She will be playing world number two Neil Robertson in the first round.
Reanne McIlroy and Reanne Evans are among the top female players in the game. 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 believes there is no obstacle for women to snooker. Two women are currently ranked in top 30 of the world rankings for men. If the next generation can challenge the best players worldwide, women's snooker will be a bright future.
There are many great lady snooker pros around the world. 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.