Right on cue: Evans captures record eighth World Snooker title

Cambridge, United Kingdom (AHN Sports) – After a tough and challenging season, which included missing two events due to a lung ailment, Reanne Evans showed her potent form in trouncing the top-ranked Maria Catalano at the final of the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association’s World Championships at Cambridge Snooker Centre.

Evans topped former tormentor Catalano 5-3 Wednesday for a record eight successive women’s world snooker championship title.

The 2012 edition of the World Ladies Championship, which started Friday, April 20, saw the top four seeds advanced through the knockout stage, including No. 3 seed Evans.

Evans, who had been kept off the green baize for three months as she dealt with pleurisy, raced to a 4-2 lead after winning an epic safety battle against the world No. 1 Catalano, who was attempting to capture her first world title.

Catalano, who had won three ranking tournaments this season, including the Connie Gough Memorial, where she doused Evans comeback attempt with a preliminary round exit, drew within 4-3 following a 48 clearance to win on the black.

But the gritty Evans shrugged off tentativeness in her final appearance and dashed Catalano’s title bid by winning the next frame.

In September, Catalano halted Evans record 90-match winning streak at the Northern Championship in Clay Cross.

Evans tried to get back on track by dominating the UK Championships in October but the 26-year-old native of Dudley, West Midlands, was struck down by pleurisy.

It caused her to miss the East Anglian Championship in November, which was dominated by Catalano, and the Southern Classic held last January in Fareham.

Catalano, 30, who is also from Dudley, ended the season as world No. 1 despite suffering a third world championship final setback.

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