Reanne Evans on 'disgusting' prize money in women's snooker as Baipat Siripaporn claims world title
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ByEurosport
Updated 06/03/2023 at 10:01 GMT
Reanne Evans has criticised the prize money on offer at the women's World Championship in Bangkok. The record 12-time winner was knocked out of the event by 5-3 Bai Yulu of China in the semi-finals before Thailand's Baipat Siripaporn claimed the £6,000 first prize with a 6-3 final victory over Bai. Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and Eurosport.com
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Reanne Evans, a 12-time world champion, has criticised the prize money in women's snooker.
The 12-time winner lost 5-3 to Chinese teenager Bai Yuluin after leading 3-1 in the semi-finals of this year's event, a result that could cost her the chance of another two-year wildcard to compete on the sport's main professional circuit next season.
Eurosport pundit Evans would like to be part of a more lucrative women's tour in the future than battle it out with the men, and the English player believes it is "disgusting" the level on money on offer outside of the elite level.
19-year-old Bai – who had hit a break of 127, the highest in the event's history – and Baipat Siripaporn of Thailand competed for a £6,000 first prize for lifting the women's world title in Bangkok and a spot on the main World Snooker tour.
It was Baipat who won the final four frames from 3-2 behind to secure the Mandy Fisher trophy and money.
In stark contrast, Ronnie O'Sullivan picked up £500,000 for his seventh world title success at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield last May.
"I have played in invitation events where the money just for turning up is more than what the [women’s] world champion gets – and I think that is disgusting, really," Evans is quoted as saying in the Mirror.
"I just wish someone would put a proper women’s tour on and make us professional. The Mongolian lady [Bayarsaikhan] Narantuya who beat [Ng] On Yee (three-time world champion), she is a really good player. And there are more out there. They just don’t get a chance because it is all behind closed doors.
"If there is more money and tournaments around the world, that’s where our tour will come from.
"I just hope to god they back it because I think we deserve our spot as being professional in our own right on our own women’s tour, and not having to mix it with the men."
Baipat joins compatriot and last year's world champion Mink Nutcharut on the main tour next season after a 5-2 win over Mink in the last four.
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