2017 World Women's Snooker Championship

2017 Eden World Women's Snooker Championship
Tournament information
Dates13–19 March 2017 (2017-03-13 – 2017-03-19)
VenueLagoon Billiard Room
CountrySingapore
OrganisationWorld Ladies Billiards and Snooker
FormatRound Robin, Single elimination
Total prize fund£15,000
Winner's share£5,000
Highest break76 Ng On-yee
Final
Champion Ng On-yee (HKG)
Runner-up Vidya Pillai (IND)
Score6–5
2016
2018

The 2017 World Women's Snooker Championship was a women's snooker tournament that took place at the Lagoon Billiard Room in Toa Payoh, Singapore, from 13 to 19 March 2017. The event was the 2017 edition of the World Women's Snooker Championship first held in 1976. The event was won by Hong Kong's Ng On-yee, who defeated Vidya Pillai in the final 6–5. Playing time in the final was 8 hours and 4 minutes, making it the longest recorded best-of-11-frames match, surpassing the previous record of 7 hours and 14 minutes set at the 1992 UK Championship.

The event featured a total prize fund of £15,000, with the winner receiving £5,000. On-yee scored the highest break of the tournament, a 76. The competition was sponsored by Eden Resources.

Background

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The tournament was held at the Lagoon Billiard Room in Toa Payoh, Singapore, the first time in more than 20 years that the women's championship had been held outside the United Kingdom.[1] Entry was on an invitational basis,[2] with 32 players, from ten different countries competing.[3] The competition was sponsored by Eden Resources.[4]

The event featured eight groups of four players, with the top two players from each group progressing. The event was split after the group stage, with players not reaching the main knockout tournament competing in a parallel tournament named the "Challenge Cup".[5] Matches were played as best-of-five frames in the group stage, increasing in each round up to the final which was played as a best-of-11-frames match.[1]

Seeding

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There were eight seeded players for the tournament, determined by rankings following the 2017 Connie Gough Tournament held in February 2017, who were drawn into separate groups.[3] The seeded players were:[3]

  1.  Reanne Evans (ENG)
  2.  Ng On-yee (HKG)
  3.  Maria Catalano (ENG)
  4.  Laura Evans (WAL)
  5.  Tatjana Vasiljeva (LAT)
  6.  Suzie Opacic (ENG)
  7.  Katrina Wan (HKG)
  8.  Rebecca Granger (ENG)

Tournament summary

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Early stages

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The event began on 13 March with the group stages, featuring eight groups of four players, the top two players progressing from each group. Group stage matches were all played as best-of-five-frames matches, with dead frames being played.[1] Reanne Evans won all 15 frames across her three matches, whilst both Katrina Wan and Rebecca Kenna won 14 frames each, losing just one.[2]

In the semi-finals, Ng On-yee came back from 60 points down in the deciding frame to beat defending champion Reanne Evans 5–4.[6] Vidya Pillai defeated Rebecca Kenna 5–1 to become the first championship finalist ever from India.[1]

On her way to the final, Pillai defeated four of the eight seeded players – Maria Catalano in the group stage, then Tatjana Vasiljeva, Katrina Wan, and Kenna in the knockouts. On-yee against Pillai was the first all-Asian final in the history of the championship.[1]

The semi-finals started at 10:00 am local time on Sunday, 19 March, with the final scheduled for the afternoon. On-yee had a break of only 30 minutes after her semi-final win before starting what turned out to be a lengthy final commencing at 16:00 pm.[7][8]

Final

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The final was played on 19 March 2019, as a best-of-11-frames match. On-yee won the first two frames before losing the next four. She then won the next three to lead 5–4, before Pillai won the tenth to take the match to the deciding frame.[1]

The deciding frame lasted over an hour.[7] With just pink and black balls left, and the pink lying close to the black, which was itself very close to one of the corner pockets, On-yee fouled and left a free ball. Pillai, four points behind, nominated the black but miscued and hit the pink instead, also potting the black. On-yee then potted the pink ball to take the frame 66–50 and gain her second world title, having also won in 2015.[1][9]

The playing time in the final was 8 hours and 4 minutes; it was the longest 11-frame competitive match in snooker, significantly exceeding the previous record of 7 hours and 14 minutes taken by Paul Tanner to defeat Robby Foldvari 6–5 at the 1992 UK Championship.[7] It was the first final to go to the deciding frame in the tournament since 1989,[7] finishing at 1:30 am local time.[6]

Across the semi-final and final, On-yee played for more than 12 hours on the Sunday (and the early part of Monday morning).[6] She received £5,000 for her win. The winner's prize money the previous year, when Reanne Evans won, had been less than a quarter of this.[4]

Breaks

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The highest break of the tournament was 76 by On-yee. The second-highest break was scored by On-yee and Evans, who both had a 69. In all, there were only eleven breaks of 50 or over during the groups and knockout stage.[2]

Tournament results

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Group stage

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The top two players from each of the groups progressed into the knockout draw, where they were seeded based on group stage results.[3] Progression from the group stages was determined, in order, by: Matches won; Head to head results; Frames won; Highest break; and Ranking position.[2]

Group A
Won Score Lost
 Vidya Pillai (IND) 4–1  Maria Catalano (ENG)
 Paula Judge (IRE) 3–2  Jeong Min Park (KOR)
 Maria Catalano (ENG) 5–0  Paula Judge (IRE)
 Vidya Pillai (IND) 5–0  Jeong Min Park (KOR)
 Maria Catalano (ENG) 5–0  Jeong Min Park (KOR)
 Vidya Pillai (IND) 3–2  Paula Judge (IRE)
Group B
Won Score Lost
 Waratthanun Sukritthanes (THA) 3–2  Tatjana Vasiljeva (LAT)
 Waratthanun Sukritthanes (THA) 5–0  Tan Bee Yen (SIN)
 Tatjana Vasiljeva (LAT) 3–2  Tan Bee Yen (SIN)
 Waratthanun Sukritthanes (THA) 5–0  Sunita Khandelwal (IND)
 Tatjana Vasiljeva (LAT) 5–0  Sunita Khandelwal (IND)
 Tan Bee Yen (SIN) 4–1  Sunita Khandelwal (IND)
Group C
Won Score Lost
 Reanne Evans (ENG) 5–0  Suniti Damani (IND)
 Nutcharut Wongharuthai (THA) 5–0  Suniti Damani (IND)
 Reanne Evans (ENG) 5–0  Nutcharut Wongharuthai (THA)
 Hoe Shu Wah (SIN) 3–2  Suniti Damani (IND)
 Reanne Evans (ENG) 5–0  Hoe Shu Wah (SIN)
 Hoe Shu Wah (SIN) 3–2  Nutcharut Wongharuthai (THA)
Group D
Won Score Lost
 Ng On-yee (HKG) 4–1  Charlene Chai (SIN)
 Ng On-yee (HKG) 4–1  Chitra Magimairaj (IND)
 Ng On-yee (HKG) 5–0  Ronda Sheldreck (IRE)
 Chitra Magimairaj (IND) 5–0  Ronda Sheldreck (IRE)
 Charlene Chai (SIN) 5–0  Ronda Sheldreck (IRE)
 Charlene Chai (SIN) 3–2  Chitra Magimairaj (IND)
Group E
Won Score Lost
 So Man Yan (HKG) 4–1  Suzie Opacic (ENG)
 Baipat Siripaporn (THA) 3–2  Suzie Opacic (ENG)
 Baipat Siripaporn (THA) 4–1  So Man Yan (HKG)
 Amee Kamani (IND) 3–2  Suzie Opacic (ENG)
 So Man Yan (HKG) 3–2  Amee Kamani (IND)
 Amee Kamani (IND) 3–2  Baipat Siripaporn (THA)
Group F
Won Score Lost
 Rebecca Kenna (ENG) 5–0  Neeta Kothari (IND)
 Rebecca Kenna (ENG) 4–1  Jessica Tan Hui Ming (SIN)
 Jessica Tan Hui Ming (SIN) 3–2  Neeta Kothari (IND)
 Rebecca Kenna (ENG) 5–0  Pui Ying Mini Chu (HKG)
 Pui Ying Mini Chu (HKG) 3–2  Neeta Kothari (IND)
 Pui Ying Mini Chu (HKG) 5–0  Jessica Tan Hui Ming (SIN)
Group G
Won Score Lost
 Regina Toh (SIN) 4–1  Neelam Mittal (IND)
 Katrina Wan (HKG) 4–1  Regina Toh (SIN)
 Katrina Wan (HKG) 5–0  Neelam Mittal (IND)
 Diana Schuler (GER) 4–1  Regina Toh (SIN)
 Diana Schuler (GER) 4–1  Neelam Mittal (POL)
 Katrina Wan (HKG) 5–0  Diana Schuler (GER)
Group H
Won Score Lost
 Varshaa Sanjeev (IND) 5–0  Lin Meimei (SIN)
 Varshaa Sanjeev (IND) 4–1  Ho Yee Ki (HKG)
 Varshaa Sanjeev (IND) 3–2  Laura Evans (WAL)
 Laura Evans (WAL) 5–0  Lin Meimei (SIN)
 Ho Yee Ki (HKG) 5–0  Lin Meimei (SIN)
 Laura Evans (WAL) 5–0  Ho Yee Ki (HKG)

Knockout

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Source: WPBSA Tournament Manager.[2] Players listed in bold indicate match winner.

 
Last 16
Best of 7 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 7 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 9 frames
Final
Best of 11 frames
 
              
 
 
 
 
England Reanne Evans4
 
 
 
Germany Diana Schuler0
 
England Reanne Evans4
 
 
 
Thailand Baipat Siripaporn 1
 
Thailand Baipat Siripaporn 4
 
19 March
 
Wales Laura Evans3
 
England Reanne Evans4
 
 
 
Hong Kong Ng On-yee5
 
Hong Kong Ng On-yee4
 
 
 
Hong Kong Pui Ying Mini Chu 0
 
Hong Kong Ng On-yee4
 
 
 
Thailand Waratthanun Sukritthanes 3
 
Thailand Waratthanun Sukritthanes4
 
19 March
 
England Maria Catalano3
 
Hong Kong Ng On-yee 6
 
 
 
India Vidya Pillai 5
 
Latvia Tatjana Vasiljeva1
 
 
 
India Vidya Pillai 4
 
India Vidya Pillai 4
 
 
 
Hong Kong Katrina Wan1
 
Hong Kong So Man Yan 2
 
19 March
 
Hong Kong Katrina Wan4
 
India Vidya Pillai5
 
 
 
England Rebecca Kenna 1
 
Singapore Charlene Chai 1
 
 
 
India Varshaa Sanjeev4
 
India Varshaa Sanjeev 1
 
 
 
England Rebecca Kenna4
 
England Rebecca Kenna4
 
 
Singapore Hoe Shu Wah 2
 

Challenge cup

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The challenge cup was a competition for players who did not reach the main knockout draw. It was won by Amee Kamani. The highest break was 90 by Nutcharut Wongharuthai in her match against Neelam Mittal. Players listed in bold indicate match winners.[5]

 
Last 16
Best of 5 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 5 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 5 frames
Final
Best of 7 frames
 
              
 
 
 
 
England Suzie Opacic3
 
 
 
South Korea Jeong Min Park0
 
England Suzie Opacic1
 
 
 
Thailand Nutcharut Wongharuthai 3
 
Thailand Nutcharut Wongharuthai 3
 
 
 
India Neelam Mittal0
 
Thailand Nutcharut Wongharuthai 3
 
 
 
India Chitra Magimaraj0
 
India Chitra Magimaraj3
 
 
 
Singapore Lin Meimei 0
 
India Chitra Magimaraj3
 
 
 
Singapore Jessica Tan Hui Ming2
 
Hong Kong Ho Yee Ki 2
 
18 March
 
Singapore Jessica Tan Hui Ming3
 
ThailandNutcharut Wongharuthai2
 
 
 
India Amee Kamani 4
 
India Suniti Damani3
 
 
 
Republic of Ireland Paula Judge 2
 
India Suniti Damani1
 
 
 
India Amee Kamani 3
 
India Amee Kamani 3
 
 
 
Singapore Regina Toh1
 
India Amee Kamani 3
 
 
 
Singapore Tan Bee Yen 1
 
India Neeta Kothari 3
 
 
 
India Sunita Khandelwal1
 
India Neeta Kothari0
 
 
 
Singapore Tan Bee Yen 3
 
Republic of Ireland Ronda Sheldreck0
 
 
Singapore Tan Bee Yen 3
 

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "On Yee Regains Women's World Title". wpbsa.com. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e "2017 Eden World Women's Snooker Championship". WPBSA Tournament Manager. WPBSA. Archived from the original on 26 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Huart, Matt. "Draw Available: Eden World Women's Snooker Championship 2017". womenssnooker.com. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Increased Prize Fund for Eden World Women's Snooker Championship". wpbsa.com. WPBSA. 12 January 2017. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Eden World Women's Championship 2017 – Challenge Cup". mysnookerstats.com. World Women's Snooker. Archived from the original on 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Chan, Kin-wa (20 March 2019). "Hong Kong's Ng On-yee regains world title after titanic final against Vidya Pillai". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d Kanesan, John Pravin (21 March 2019). "Snooker: Two special women, one very long match". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  8. ^ Chan, Kin-wa (20 March 2019). "World Championship format must go, says new title holder Ng On-yee". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Ng On Yee (Hong Kong) vs Vidya Pillai (India) 2017 Eden World Women's Snooker Championship final". Sport Singapore. 19 March 2017. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 16 August 2019 – via YouTube.
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