Female Snooker World Championship Victory: Bai Yulu Secures Initial World Championship Triumph and £10,000 Reward
Twenty-year-old Bai Yulu clinched the crown of this year's World Female Snooker Championship, held in China, making her the inaugural champion in the competition's history. In an nail-biting final, she triumphed over previous champion Mink Nutcharut, 24, securing a win of 10,000 GBP (approximately 11,700 EUR). We revisit the salient moments of the final and present the renowned female snooker athletes and their stellar accomplishments.
Bai Yulu Becomes the First Title Holder
Yulu, at the tender age of 20, etched her name in history by emerging victorious in the final of the World Female Snooker Championship [English link] in Dongguan, China, against Nutcharut, the tournament's top seed, with a scoreline of 6:5.
Going into the final, Yulu was the favorite, having played an exceptional run throughout the tournament, even outclassing seven-time champion Reanne Evans, 38, in the semifinals.
The final kicked off with a strong showing from Yulu, who went into the interval with a lead of 3:1. She produced a 122-point break, the tournament's highest, and the highest-ever break in a female world championship final.
Nutcharut bolstered her game following the interval, winning three consecutive frames and seizing the lead for the first time. Yulu retaliated, clinching the next two frames, making it 5:4. Both players delivered a compelling showdown in the tenth frame. After a gripping encounter, Nutcharut emerged victorious.
With the score leveled at 5:5, the decisive frame unfolded. Both players showcased their nerves of steel, producing missed opportunities. However, Yulu eventually triumphed, claiming her first world title in front of her adoring hometown fans.
Yulu's victory earned her a 10,000 GBP (approximately 11,700 EUR) prize. She also gained a two-year pass to the World Snooker Tour, allowing her to compete against male snooker stars.
Yulu's world title qualification entitled her to participate in the WM qualification and the Champions of Champions.
Who are the Top Performers in Female Snooker?
The female snooker championship has existed since 1976. Over the years, 15 distinct players have claimed the title. We delve into three prominent and active female snooker athletes and their illustrious careers.
Reanne Evans
Evans, from the UK, is the most accomplished female snooker player of all time, having clinched the title an unprecedented 12 times, surpassing Allison Fisher, 56, in second place with seven titles.
From 2005 to 2014, Evans won the title an astounding ten consecutive times, a feat nearly impossible for males. In addition, she earned a string of 90 consecutive victories and set a best break of 140, both on the Women's Tour.
Ng On Yee
Yee, who hails from Hong Kong, is a three-time female snooker world champion. She took up snooker at the age of 13, under the tutelage of her father, and rapidly ascended in the ranks. Yee clinched the title in 2015, 2017, and 2018. She also assumed the top spot in the female world rankings for a year. Yee has garnered numerous awards for her achievements in female snooker within Hong Kong.
Yulu is the current reigning Female Snooker World Champion. She is the first Chinese player to claim the title. Yulu has been a professional snooker player since 2019. In 2023, she made her Women's World Championship debut, reaching the final, but ultimately succumbing to Baipat Siripaporn, 24, with a scoreline of 3-6.
Dongguan, the location of this year's Women's World Championship, holds a special place in Yulu's heart. As a child, her family relocated to Dongguan, where Yulu grew up. Thus, she claimed her first world title in front of her loving home audience.
The Women's Snooker World Championship in Yushan is At Its Peak
The Women's Snooker World Championship is not the only snooker tournament underway in China. The Men's World Open is currently being staged in Yushan. The tournament is nearing its conclusion and will culminate in the grand final on March 24th. The event is currently bustling, with numerous spectators rooting for the contestants in the ongoing round. The stands are brimming with life, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
An analysis of the prize money reveals that the winner of the tournament will receive 170,000 GBP (approximately 198,000 EUR). This is nearly 17 times more than the prize money awarded for winning the Women's Snooker World Championship.
The realm of snooker currently leans heavily towards male dominance, as underscored by the substantially lesser cash awards bestowed upon women. For clinching the championship, Bai Yulu pocketed 11,700 Euros. On the other hand, males can expect a whopping 585,000 Euros upon victory.
Many snooker pros, including multible world champion Reanne Evans, have previously voiced their discontent regarding the meager rewards. Evans herself confessed to dwelling with her parents for an extended period due to financial constraints that prevented her from securing a separate abode. Many of her colleagues juggle snooker with regular 9-to-5 employment.
However, recent years have witnessed shifts in this male-centric landscape. Since 2021, the top two female players have been graced with participation in the men's prestigious main tour. This year's Women's World Championship in China witnessed its inaugural live audience, a departure from the previous setting of club-hosted matches devoid of spectators.
The Dongguan arena, boasting a seating capacity of 1,500, was almost fully occupied during the final. The elevated standard of matches testifies to the remarkable progress of women's snooker in recent years.
Ronnie O'Sullivan Advocates for Parity
Even renowned seven-time world champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, age 48, has expressed concern over the unequal treatment of male and female snooker players. In an interview with Reanne Evans, he expressed his belief that women require their own tour:
I firmly believe that you ladies deserve far better than you're presently receiving from snooker. You shouldn't be confined to participating in the men's tour. Each and every one of you is exceptionally skilled. I'd relish the opportunity to contribute to your cause.– Ronnie O'Sullivan, seven-time Men's Snooker World Champion, Eurosport
He also emphasized that Evans, with her twelve world championship titles, has surpassed the men's record holder who boasts just seven titles. O'Sullivan harbors a dream of bolstering women's snooker post his retirement, when he'd have more spare time to dedicate towards helping the players.
The win in the World Female Snooker Championship has also earned Yulu a spot in the World Snooker Tour, allowing her to compete against male snooker stars.
Following Yulu's victory, there have been calls for more parity in prize money between male and female snooker tournaments.
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