Champion on and off the Table: Reanne Evans' Impact on Women’s Snooker
Discover Reanne Evans' incredible journey in women's snooker, from her record-breaking 12 world titles to inspiring future generations. Learn about her milestones, global career, and the impact she's making to elevate the sport.
Image Credits: Tai Chengzhe/VCG via Getty Images
Snooker star Reanne Evans is proud to have played such a pivotal role in raising the profile of the women’s game. But the record 12-time women’s world champion has stressed she will continue to do everything in her power to help the women’s game grow ever further.
Making History at the 2024 English Open
Evans also continues to make history at the ongoing 2024 English Open, competing in the first ever match between two female players on the professional World Snooker Tour, as Thailand’s Mink Nutcharut claiming a 4-2 victory.
“When I think back to how the tournaments were when I started, we have moved forward leaps and bounds,” Evans told SportsBoom.com.
I would like to see that continue, I am proud of what we have achieved and it’s up to the top players to keep promoting it.
Reanne Evans
A Global Career and Milestone Events
Evans has travelled the planet playing snooker since she first became a competitive player in her teens.
Earlier this year she competed in the World Women’s Championship in Dongguan Changping, China, a location which raised the bar for World Women’s Snooker with a superb venue, facilities and support from fans in the arena and in the global audience.
“Snooker has given me the chance to travel the world and meet so many interesting people,” added Evans.
“To play in the final stages of the event in Saudi is a great chance to see somewhere new and meet the fans there. The event in China this year was brilliant, we were so well looked after.”
“When we arrived at the venue and saw massive banners everywhere it was fantastic, it was really exciting to play on that stage and I hope the women’s tour will keep moving on to bigger and better things.”
Finding Inspiration in Serena Williams
But where has Evans found the inspiration to dominate the green baize game for over a decade?
The acclaimed 38-year-old potter won an incredible ten world titles in a row between 2005 and 2014.
“Serena Williams was a real inspiration for me,” revealed Evans.
“You don’t really realise it when you first start watching her, I just loved watching her play.”
“But then what you think about what she’s been through and what she’s done for black women and women in sport in general is amazing.”
“When you think of away from the court, being a mum and playing sport, that’s something I can really relate to.”
“The Williams sisters came along and took the game to new levels.”
“I don’t think it, but some people say I did the same in snooker.”
“When you first start out you concentrate on you and your performance because you want to win things for yourself. Once you get older you realise, you’re not just doing it for you, you’re doing it for young girls coming up and even women who have left the sport.”
For me it’s a difficult one because I don’t like to think it’s because of me but I hope I’ve had a part to play in people taking up snooker.
Reanne Evans
A Journey That’s Far from Over
As snooker is one of the few major sports where men and women can compete on an equal footing, Evans has also played five seasons on the professional tour.
Looking back on the many milestones she has reached in her career, Evans names her biggest moments in snooker.
She was just 19 when she made her major breakthrough, winning her first world title in 2005.
From 4-2 down in the final, she won four consecutive frames to beat Lynette Horsburgh 6-4.
“Lynette was a very experienced player and tough to beat,” she recalls. “It was a big moment in my career, to win it for the first time.”
A year later, there were doubts as to whether Evans would be able to defend her crown, as she was seven and a half months pregnant with daughter Lauren, who is now 18.
But she decided to play, and amazingly went through the field then beat Emma Bonney 5-3 in the final.
She said: “A few people said it was unfair because there were two of us against each opponent! Obviously, Lauren brought me luck. I remember my legs got very sore and I had to put my feet up in between matches. I came into the event with no expectation, not even sure if I was going to play. But I ended up playing some good stuff.”
“It’s been an amazing journey, but one that’s not finished yet.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.