By Elliott West
Introduction
Over the last couple of days, Sheffield has been a hive of snooker activity as it played host to the World Women’s Snooker Championship. Made up of 50 of the best female snooker players, this was the first time that the event had been held since Reanne Evans claimed her 12th world title in June 2019 and players would compete over four days to see who would lift the Mandy Fisher Trophy.
A Breakthrough Moment
In the end, this tournament would produce a surprising and yet deserved winner. This was a moment for Thailand to celebrate and for its winner, Nutcharut Wongharuthai to bathe in her hour of glory. The 22-year-old became the 13th different winner and the first Thai player to claim the title and as a result of her victory will be offered a two year professional Tour card for the 2022/3 season, joining her fellow professionals Reanne Evans and Ng On Yee who are already playing on the tour.
Nutcharut came to this tournament with very promising form, having already been victorious at last month’s British Women’s Open and reaching the quarter-finals stages of the WPBSA Q Tour event, an event where she defeated five male players. So when play got started in Sheffield, it seemed likely that she may do well but the money was probably on one of the big guns to raise the trophy.
However, her chance in the competition came when both Reanne Evans and Ng On Yee both exited at the quarter-final stages and it was then that it was guaranteed that a new champion would be crowned. The Thai booked her place in her final by beating Jamie Hunter 5-2 whilst her opponent Wendy Jans defeated Rebecca Kenna 5-1.
The Final
The Thai player who is known as Mink, made the stronger start, taking two of the first three frames. It was a match she was determined to win after coming so close to beating Reanne Evans in 2019 final. However, it wouldn’t be quite that breeze in the park that Wongharuthai dreamed of. Her opponent Jans came back at her with a break of 97, taking both frames on either side of the interval to lead 4-2 and looked likely to claim the title when she led her Thai opponent 5-3.
However, it would be the Thai who came back fighting and took the match to a dramatic last frame decider. A player who cites Mark Selby as her snooker hero grasped her chance in a frame where both players had their opportunities to seize the day. Jans had the chance when she received penalty points to win on a brown to black clearance but she missed the long black and her opponent was able to sink it to claim victory at 6-5.
This victory is so special for the Thai because it completed a full circle from when she first started playing snooker at the age of 10, hoping for success in a game that she clearly adores. Her debut at the 2017 Women’s World Championship showed promise, making the tournament a high break of 90 and now she has the opportunity to shine again on the tour itself. It is a seismic moment for women’s snooker and definitely a player to watch out for in the future.
