REANNE Evans said she’s targetting 100 straight wins on the women’s snooker circuit after extending her record-breaking run with victory in the British Open.
Reanne Evans
The undisputed world number one, who had compiled a massive 140 break in the last-four, defeated Portsmouth’s Emma Bonney 3-1 in the final (on Saturday, November 27).
Pot Black Sports Bar in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, hosted and sponsored the third leg of the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association’s 2010/11 tour.
Evans, the six-time women’s world champion, has now won her last 76 WLBSA matches.
After successfully defending her British Open title, the 25-year-old from Dudley, West Midlands, said: “It was a bit scrappy and all the balls went a bit awkward. I needed a snooker in the second frame, got it, and then she potted a brilliant pink.”
But the frame turned out to be a purely a consolation for five-time world billiards champion Bonney, who was unable to halt Evans’ march towards a 26th WLBSA ranking title.
Evans matched her highest break with a 140 total clearance in a 3-0 semi-final victory over Kent’s June Banks.
WLBSA chairman Mandy Fisher said: “It was a fantastic 140. You don’t get many like that.”
Despite being virtually unbeatable on the women’s circuit, Evans is still searching for that elusive first victory on the professional circuit.
She narrowly lost 4-3 to world champion Neil Robertson in the European Players Tour Championship in Prague last week and four days later crashed out of the UK Championship 9-1 to China’s Xiao Guodong.
She said: “No matter what, all it can do is increase my confidence for the Ladies. I can only take the positives from it, because that’s all it is this season. I can’t expect much, really, just experience and enjoying it.
And she added with a laugh: “I just need that win and I’ll be alright.”
Second seed Maria Catalano was a shock last-16 casualty in the British Open, losing 3-2 to world number 14 Tina Owen-Sevilton.
Taunton’s Owen-Sevilton climbed two places after a 3-0 semi-final defeat by Bonney.
Jenny Poulter (Maidstone) accounted for Vicky Carter (Hemel Hempstead) in the Plate final. Martina Lumsden (Eastbourne) defeated Gaye Jones (Melksham, Wilts) to claim the Seniors’ title. And Derby schoolgirl Hannah Jones, 14, eased past 16-year-old Naomi Clare (Ripley, Derbys) in the Junior final.
Evans smashed Kelly Fisher’s record of 69 consecutive winning matches at the East Anglian Championship in Cambridge last month.
It was announced this week that, from January 1, WLBSA membership will be free. Tournament entry fees will be increased slightly to cover administration costs.
The WLBSA is hosting six ranking events this season culminating in the World Championships in April.
RESULTS (BREAKS)
LAST-32: Vicky Carter beat Kim O’Brien 3-2.
LAST-16: Reanne Evans (52) beat Carter 3-0, Natascha Niermann beat Jenny Poulter 3-1, June Banks beat Gaye Jones 3-0, Martina Lumsden beat Eva Palmius 3-1, Emma Bonney beat Chris Sharpe 3-0, Jan Hughes beat Naomi Clare 3-2, Hannah Jones beat Marianne Williams 3-2, Tina Owen-Sevilton beat Maria Catalano 3-2.
