Snooker was traditionally viewed as a male-only game. Female players were often considered inferior. The rise of Asian female snooker players has brought about a new generation.
In 2019, Australia saw the first ever women's ranking event. Nutcharut Wuthharuthai won the event. She is believed by be the first female to break 147. She was born in 1998 and is now eligible to compete on next season's professional World Snooker Tour.
Chitra Sri Krishnamurthy is another Asian woman snooker player. She was the first Indian woman ever to win the Australian Open Snooker Championship 2008. In 2011, she won the six-red snooker title. Her debut appearance in 2014 at the Eden World Ladies Senior Championships marked her second appearance. She also reached the finals of the Eden World Ladies Senior Championships.
Reanne Evans is the world's #1 lady snooker player. She is the reigning world champion, having won ten world titles. She has been invited wildcard to play on the men's touring in 2010/11. Her services to snooker have also earned her an MBE.
Reanne Evans was born and raised 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 also won eight billiards, and ball pool titles. She is currently the holder of the World Pool Championship title. She has also won the European Masters and is the most successful female player in the UK.
Evans won the women's world title in 2006 while she was seven months pregnant. She was first woman to reach main stages in a ranking event. She qualified for the televised stages of the Wuxi Classic in China, and beat Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-4 in a qualifying match.
Evans has been the world number 1 for the past 10 years. She has been awarded ten world titles, and an MBE for her contributions to snooker. She has been granted a wildcard invitation for the professional tour of the 2010/11 seasons. She will compete at the UK's final stages for the world ranking. She will be taking on world number 2 Neil Robertson in round 1.
Reanne McIlroy is, Reanne Evans and Emma Bonney are all great female players. 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 states that there is no discrimination against women in 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.
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.