REANNE EVANS will escape formal disciplinary action for snubbing Mark Allen’s pre-match fist-bump in snooker’s Battle of the Exes. The record 12-time women’s world champion missed a match ball before being beaten 3-2 by former partner Allen at the British Open on Monday. Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry described the occasion as “the most intense match […]
REANNE EVANS will escape formal disciplinary action for snubbing Mark Allen’s pre-match fist-bump in snooker’s Battle of the Exes.
The record 12-time women’s world champion missed a match ball before being beaten 3-2 by former partner Allen at the British Open on Monday.
Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry described the occasion as “the most intense match I have witnessed”.
And Allen insisted it had been “horrible . . . I’d rather have played Judd Trump”.
A contest billed as the ultimate grudge match took place against a backdrop of legal proceedings over maintenance payments for the pair’s teenage daughter.
Northern Ireland’s Allen, a former Masters winner and ranked No 10 in the world, tentatively offered a fist-bump before the match began.
But Dudley’s Evans provoked gasps from the crowd and an intake of breath from the TV audience as she turned her back on the gesture and broke off.
There is no strict obligation to shake hands, and the tradition of doing so has taken various different forms during the Covid era.
Players have been warned in the past but the combination of the lack of any aggressive verbal exchange and an understanding of the acrimony involved means no action will be taken.
Evans has just earned a two-year tour card for her world No 1 women’s ranking.
And in another boost, she has been backed to kick on from a best-ever performance on TV. Previous opportunities in the spotlight had seen the talisman for the women’s game fail to do herself justice.
But against Allen Evans competed well, let down only by a missed red that would have seen her win 3-1.
Jason Ferguson, chairman of governing body the WPBSA, said: “Reanne and Ng On-yee, both on tour now, can inspire the next generation of women players.
“Reanne is a hero, a trailblazer and a pioneer.
“I think we will see a moment like Fallon Sherrock produced in the darts — big wins in the biggest tournaments — very soon.
“I just wanted to get through this match for obvious reasons, but overall my form is good and hopefully I can take that on now.”
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“Even though she lost I think the match could be a real springboard for Reanne.
“It showed exactly what is going on in this sport. The women players are getting the experience.
“Reanne demonstrated a theory I have long subscribed to, that a woman can compete against a man in the sport of snooker.”
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