World Women's Billiards Championship

English billiards world championship From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

English billiards, known in Britain as just billiards, was developed by around 1800 as a combination of earlier cue sports.[1] Matches are played either across specified time periods, or to a specified number of points.[2] As of 1930, many billiard halls in the UK did not admit women.[3][4] That year, the British cue sports company Burroughes and Watts organised the first edition of what would become the Women's Professional Billiards Championship and then announced a Women's Amateur Billiards Championship,[5][6][7] later recognised as the World Women's Billiards Championship.[8] The first rounds of the amateur tournament would be played at regional venues, with the regional winners qualifying for the semi-finals and final at Burroughes Hall in London.[5][9] Ruth Harrison was the champion from 23 participants, and the highest break made was 28.[10][11]

Established1931
Organisation(s)World Billiards
Recent edition2025
Current champion Shruthi L (IND)
Quick facts Tournament information, Established ...
World Women's Billiards Championship
Tournament information
Established1931
Organisation(s)World Billiards
Recent edition2025
Current champion Shruthi L (IND)
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Two women at a billiard table
Ruth Harrison (left) and Ellen Eddowes, finalists in the 1931 Championship
a group of women, some holding trophies, standing next to a billiard table
The 1948 Women's Billiards Association awards ceremony. Pictured (left to right) are Ruth Harrison (inaugural champion), Thelma Carpenter (three-time champion), Joyce Gardner, Agnes Morris, Valerie Hobson, Evelyn Morland-Smith (four-time champion), Beryl Stamper, Joan Adcock, E. Peters. Back row: Gladys Burton (twice runner-up)
Shruthi L at the 2025 championship

The Women's Billiards Association took over responsibility for the amateur tournament from the 1932 edition, which had 41 entries.[11] Thelma Carpenter made the highest break, 45, on her way to winning the title.[11] Carpenter won in 1933 and 1934 to complete a hat-trick of victories, before turning professional. Vera Seals, a receptionist from Chesterfield who had learnt the game from male world professional billiards champion Joe Davis, took the 1935 amateur title, and set a new highest break record of 62.[12][13][14] The tournament was held regularly until 1940, but then put on hold until after World War II. From 1947 to 1980 the tournament was held most years, with Vera Selby winning eight titles, and Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) winning six. Evelyn Morland-Smith was another player to win multiple titles; her last was in 1959 when she was 75.[15][8]

After a period of dormancy from 1980, the tournament was revived by the World Ladies' Billiards and Snooker Association (WLBSA) in 1998, and Karen Corr won the first of two titles.[8][16] The WLBSA became a subsidiary organisation of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association in 2015, and was renamed World Women's Snooker in 2019.[17] As of 2024, World Billiards, another subsidiary company of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, runs the competition.[18] Emma Bonney has won the title a record 13 times, between 2000 and 2018. The 2025 champion was Shruthi L who defeated Anna Lynch 347–222.

Finals

More information Year, Organiser ...
World Women's Billiards Championship finals
Year Organiser Winner Runner-up Final score Venue Ref.
1931 Burroughes and Watts  Ruth Harrison (ENG)  Ellen Eddowes (ENG) 1,000-581Burroughes Hall, London[19][20]
1932 WBA  Thelma Carpenter (ENG)  Ethel Brown (ENG) 1,000-730Burroughes Hall, London[21][11]
1933 WBA  Thelma Carpenter (ENG)  Vera Seals (ENG) 1,000-552Burroughes Hall, London[22][23]
1934 WBA  Thelma Carpenter (ENG)  Vera Seals (ENG) 1,200–915Burroughes Hall, London[24][25]
1935 WBA  Vera Seals (ENG)  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) 1,000-499Burroughes Hall, London[13][26]
1936 WBA  Vera Seals (ENG)  Ella Morris (ENG) 1,000-528Burroughes Hall, London[27][28]
1937 WBA  Grace Phillips (ENG)  Vera Seals (ENG) 1,000-968Burroughes Hall, London[29]
1938[a] WBA  Victoria McDougall (ENG)  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) 1,000-991Burroughes Hall, London[30][31]
1939 WBA  Victoria McDougall (ENG)  G M Saunders (ENG) 674–563Burroughes Hall, London[32][33]
1940–46 Not held[8]
1947 WBA  Sadie Isaacs (ENG)  Doris Keene (ENG) 373–335Empire Club, Shaftesbury Avenue, London[34]
1948 WBA  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG)  Gladys Burton (ENG) 537–399Thurston's Hall, London[35][36]
1949 WBA  Marie Keeton (ENG)  Gladys Burton (ENG) 455–398Burroughes Hall, London[37]
1950 WBA  Helen Futo (ENG)  Sadie Isaacs (ENG) 420–359Burroughes Hall, London[38]
1951 Not held[39]
1952[b] WBA  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG)  Helen Futo (ENG) 431–408Burroughes Hall, London[40]
1953 WBA  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG)  Helen Futo (ENG) 411–388Burroughes Hall, London[41]
1954 WBA  Helen Futo (ENG)  Maureen Barrett (ENG) 448–430Burroughes Hall, London[42]
1955 WBA  Maureen Barrett (ENG)  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) 451–401Burroughes Hall, London[43]
1956[c] WBA  Maureen Barrett (ENG) unknown unknownBurroughes Hall, London[44]
1957 WBA  Maureen Barrett (ENG)  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) 553–334Burroughes Hall, London[45]
1958 Not held[8]
1959 WBA  Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG)[d] 330–328Burroughes Hall, London[15][48]
1960 WBA  Muriel Hazeldene (ENG)[e]  Ray Craven (ENG) 339–324Burroughes Hall, London[51]
1961 WBA  Maureen Barrett (ENG)  Thea Hindmarch (ENG) 542–506Burroughes Hall, London[52][53]
1962 WBA  Thea Hindmarch (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 438–385Burroughes Hall, London[54]
1963 WBA  Sadie Isaacs (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 485–315Burroughes Hall, London[55]
1964 WBA  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 649–336Burroughes Hall, London[46]
1965 WBA  Vera Youle (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 393–386Burroughes Hall, London[56][57]
1966 WBA  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG)  Vera Youle (ENG) 514–319Burroughes Hall, London[58]
1967 WBA  Thea Hindmarch (ENG)  Sally Bartley (ENG) 416–319Burroughes Hall, London[59][60]
1968 WBA  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 434–265Billiards and Snooker Centre, Great Windmill Street, London[61]
1969 WBA  Thea Hindmarch (ENG)  Vera Selby (ENG) 452–409Billiards and Snooker Centre, Great Windmill Street, London[62][63]
1970 WBA  Vera Selby (ENG) unknownunknownunknown[64]
1971 WBA  Vera Selby (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 506–304Billiards and Snooker Centre, Great Windmill Street, London[65][66]
1972 WBA  Vera Selby (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 736–354London[67][68]
1973 WBA  Vera Selby (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) w.o.n/a[69]
1974 WBA  Vera Selby (ENG)  Thea Hindmarch (ENG) unknownWindmill Billiards Club, London[70][71]
1975 Not held[8]
1976 WBA  Vera Selby (ENG)  Ray Craven (ENG) 407–157unknown[70][72]
1977 WBA  Vera Selby (ENG)unknownunknownunknown[73]
1978 WBA  Vera Selby (ENG)  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG) 366–319Fishers, Acton, London[70][74]
1979 WBA  Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG)  Vera Selby (ENG) unknown[f]British Rail Staff Association, Gateshead[76][75]
1980–97 Not held[8]
1998 WLBSA  Karen Corr (NIR)  Emma Bonney (ENG) 403–219Radion Executive Club, Sheffield[16]
1999 WLBSA  Karen Corr (NIR)  Kelly Fisher (ENG) 354–276Radion Executive Club, Sheffield[77]
2000 WLBSA  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Caroline Walch (ENG) 218–50Radion Executive Club, Sheffield[78]
2001 WLBSA  Kelly Fisher (ENG)  Emma Bonney (ENG) 290–219Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon[79]
2002 WLBSA  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Kelly Fisher (ENG) 227–196Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon[80]
2003 WLBSA  Kelly Fisher (ENG)  Emma Bonney (ENG) 299–155Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon[81]
2004 Not held[8]
2005 WLBSA  Anuja Thakur (IND)  Lynette Horsburgh (SCO) 243–136Cambridge Snooker Centre[82][83]
2006 WLBSA  Chitra Magimairaj (IND)  Emma Bonney (ENG) 193–164Cambridge Snooker Centre[84]
2007 WLBSA  Chitra Magimairaj (IND)  Emma Bonney (ENG) 187–148Cambridge Snooker Centre[85]
2008 WLBSA  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Eva Palmius (SWE) 216–119Cambridge Snooker Centre[86]
2009 WLBSA  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Chitra Magimairaj (IND) 272–118Cambridge Snooker Centre[87]
2010 WLBSA  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Chitra Magimairaj (IND) 269–220Stadium Snooker Club, Birmingham[88]
2011 WLBSA  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Tina Owen-Sevilton (ENG) 202–181Pot Black Sports Bar, Bury St Edmunds[89]
2012 WLBSA  Revanna Umadevi (IND)  Emma Bonney (ENG) 201–143Cambridge Snooker Centre[90]
2013 WLBSA  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Eva Palmius (SWE) 329–207Cambridge Snooker Centre[91]
2014 (April) WLBSA  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Revanna Umadevi (IND) 226–209Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds[92]
2014 (October) WLBSA, World Billiards  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Revanna Umadevi (IND) 237–191Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds[93][94]
2015 WLBSA, World Billiards  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Rochy Woods (ENG) 334–119Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds[95][94]
2016 WLBSA, World Billiards  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Revanna Umadevi (IND) 239–169Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds[96]
2017 World Billiards  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Eva Palmius (SWE) 295–185Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds[97]
2018 World Billiards  Emma Bonney (ENG)  Rebecca Kenna (ENG) 329–209Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds[98]
2019 World Billiards  Anna Lynch (AUS)  Judy Dangerfield (AUS) 244–204Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, Melbourne[99]
2020–21 Not held[100]
2022 World Billiards  Jamie Hunter (ENG)  Snenthra Babu (IND) 304–148Sharkx Academy, Newbridge[100]
2023 Not held[101]
2024 World Billiards  Shruthi L (IND)  Keerath Bhandaal (IND) 215–202Landywood Snooker Club, Great Wyrley[18]
2025 World Billiards  Shruthi L (IND)  Anna Lynch (AUS) 347–222Landywood Snooker Club, Great Wyrley[102]
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Wins by player

Maureen Barrett playing a cue sport
Maureen Baynton (pictured in 1953) won eight titles between 1955 and 1979.
A woman holding a pool cue
Karen Corr (pictured in 2009) won the title when the championship was revived in 1998 and retained the title in 1999.
Three-quarter profle headshot of Anuja thakur
In 2005, Anuja Thakur (pictured) from India became the first non-British woman to win the tournament.
More information Name, Country ...
Finalists in the World Women's Billiards Championship
Name Country Wins Runners-up
Emma Bonney England England136
Vera Selby England England82
Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) England England82
Evelyn Morland-Smith England England44
Thelma Carpenter England England30
Thea Hindmarch England England32
Victoria McDougall England England20
Kelly Fisher England England22
Sadie Isaacs England England21
Chitra Magimairaj India India22
Vera Seals England England23
Helen Futo England England22
Karen Corr Northern Ireland Northern Ireland20
Shruthi L India India20
Anuja Thakur India India10
Marie Keeton England England 10
Muriel Hazeldene1 England England10
Ruth Harrison England England10
Vera Youle England England11
Revanna Umadevi India India13
Anna Lynch Australia Australia11
Grace Phillips England England10
Jamie Hunter England England10
Ray Craven England England011
Eva Palmius Sweden Sweden03
Gladys Burton England England02
Ellen Eddowes England England01
Ethel Brown England England01
G M Saunders England England01
Doris Keene England England01
Sally Bartley England England01
Ella Morris England England01
Lynette Horsburgh Scotland Scotland01
Snethra Babu India India01
Rochy Woods England England01
Tina Owen-Sevilton England England01
Caroline Walch England England01
Rebecca Kenna England England01
Judy Dangerfield Australia Australia01
Keerath Bhandaal India India01
unknown –03
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IBSF Championship

In 2015, the International Billiards and Snooker Federation held its own version of a World Women's Billiards Championship.[103] Arantxa Sanchis defeated Revanna Umadevi to take the title.[103]

More information Year, Organiser ...
IBSF World Women's Billiards Championship final
Year Organiser Winner Runner-up Final score Venue Ref.
2015 IBSF  Arantxa Sanchis (IND)  Revanna Umadevi (IND) 414–255Oceania Snooker Academy, Adelaide[103][104]
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See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Held in November 1937[30]
  2. [b]
    Held in October 1951[40]
  3. [c]
    Held in October 1955[44]
  4. [d]
    The spelling Rae is also found in some sources for this player, e.g. The Liverpool Daily Post and The Birmingham Post in 1964,[46][47]
  5. [e]
    The spellings Hazeldine, e.g. in the Birmingham Evening Mail in 1960,[49] and Hezeldene, e.g, in the Birmingham Evening Mail in 1975[50] are also found in some sources for this player.
  6. [f]
    Snooker Scene has 697–683 but Newcastle Evening Chronicle has 500–486[75][76]

References

External links

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