Dudley ace Reanne Evans starts new snooker season in style

Twelve-times world champion Evans, 39, has enjoyed success in both qualifying events to kickstart the 2025/26 World Snooker Tour campaign - and will match up against one of the sport's biggest stars.

She has been victorious and earned a place in the field for the Wuhan Open, in China, and Cheltenham's British Open, both to take place later this year.

It has been a flawless start for Evans, who first off recorded a fine 5-4 success over world number 57 David Lilley after a spirited fightback to secure her place in the Chinese event.

Evans trailed 3-1 and 4-3 in the first to five in the first of her two qualifying events, which were both held at Leicester's Mattioli Arena. That victory included a 61 break in the decider for Evans, who is ranked at 98.

She will pocket a guaranteed £4,500 for appearing in round two in Wuhan at the end of August, where it will be a clash against one of the game's greats in Australian Neil Robertson.

Black Country star Evans, winner of 10 consecutive world female crowns between 2005 and 2014, then followed up that result in the same venue to reach the main stages of the British Open.

Evans saw off China's world number 123 Lan Yuhao 4-1 to reach the event taking place in Cheltenham beginning September 22. The draw is to be confirmed but the next round's loser will receive £3,000.

May's round two defeat in the Women's World Championship capped a difficult season on the professional tour for Evans, who recorded just two qualifying wins in the 2024/25 term.

She secured a new two-year pro tour card despite a 4-3 defeat to world champion Bai Yulu in the Women's British Open final in Walsall in March.

Evans is next in competitive action in the Championship League on July 15, where she faces China's Gao Yang, Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Martin O'Donnell of England, the latter pair ranked 34 and 31 respectively.