Snooker was historically viewed as a game for men, and female players were generally considered to be inferior. The recent success of Asian female players has created a new generation of stars in snooker, and women's snooker is on the rise.
In 2019, Australia held the first women’s ranking event. Nutcharut Wongharuthai won it. She is believed to have been the first woman to break 147. She was born in 1998 and is now eligible to compete on next season's professional World Snooker Tour.
Another Asian lady snooker player is Chitra Krishnamurthy. She was the first Indian woman to win Australian Open Snooker Championship (2008). She also won the six-red snooker championship in 2011. Her debut appearance in 2014 at the Eden World Ladies Senior Championships marked her second appearance. She also reached to the final of the Eden World Ladies Senior Championships.
Reanne Evans is the number one female snooker player in the world. She has won ten international titles and is the current world champion. She has also received a wildcard invitation to compete on the men's tour for the 2010/11 season. She was also given an MBE in recognition of her services to snooker.
Reanne Evans was born in Dudley, West Midlands. She began playing pool at the age of 14 and went on to become a professional in snooker. In addition to snooker, she has also won eight ball pool and billiards titles. She is currently the holder of the World Pool Championship title. She also won the European Masters title and is currently the most successful female pool player in the UK.
Evans won the women's world title in 2006 while she was seven months pregnant. She was the first woman ever to reach the main stage of a ranking competition. She qualified for the Wuxi Classic televised stage in China and beat Thepchaiya Uni-Nooh 5-4 in qualifying matches.
Evans has been world number one for the past ten year. She has won ten titles around the world and was awarded an MBE in recognition of her contribution to snooker. She was also invited to the professional tour as a wildcard for the 2010/11 season. She will compete for the UK in the final stages. She will be playing world number two Neil Robertson in the first round.
Reanne MacIlroy, Reanne Evans, Emma Bonney and Kelly Fisher are some the most prominent female players in the world. 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. Only two women currently rank in the top 30 men's world rankings. Women's snooker's future is bright if there are female players who can challenge these world-class players.
Many talented ladies snooker players are out there, and the future looks bright. The sport has been growing in the United States, as well in other countries. Mike Dominguez from OX Billiards Seattle hopes to bring the sport to the United States.