World Women's Billiards Championship


The World Women's Billiards Championship is an English billiards tournament, first held in 1931 when organised by the cue sports company Burroughes and Watts then run from 1932 by the Women's Billiards Association. It is currently run under the auspices of World Billiards Ltd, a subsidiary company of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
It should not be confused with the Women's Professional Billiards Championship, which was also run by the WBA, or with the International Billiards and Snooker Federation World Women's Billiards Championship held in 2015.
The reigning champion is Anna Lynch. Emma Bonney has won the title a record 13 times.

History

A Women's Amateur Billiards Championship was organised by cue sports company Burroughes and Watts. 23 players entered, and the highest break made was 28. Ruth Harrison was the champion.
The Women's Billiards Association took over responsibility for the tournament in 1932, when there were 41 entries. Thelma Carpenter made the highest break, 45, on her way to winning the title. Capenter won in 1933 and 1934 to complete a hat-trick of victories, before turning professional and going on to compete in the Women's Professional Billiards Championship. Vera Seals, a receptionist from Chesterfield that had learnt the game from Joe Davis, took the 1935 title, and set a new highest break record of 62. The tournament was held regularly until 1940, but then put on hold until after World War II. From 1947 to 1980 the tournament was held most years, with Vera Selby winning eight titles, and Maureen Baynton winning seven. Mrs Morland-Smith was another player to win multiple titles. In 1960, at the age of 75, she attempted to defend her title, but was unsuccessful.
After a period of dormancy from 1980, the tournament was revived in 1998, when Karen Corr won the first of two titles. The dominant player since the 1998 revival has been Emma Bonney, who has won the title 13 times.
World Billiards Ltd, a subsidiary company of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, currently runs the competition. In June 2019, the International Billiards and Snooker Federation and World Billiards Ltd agreed that the World Billiards Championship would be held by the WBL in 2019 in Australia and by the IBSF in 2020 and to co-operate to avoid tournament dates clashing.

Finals

Main sources: Billiards and Snooker Control Council Handbook and Rules ; Guinness Snooker - The Records ; World Billiards Ltd: World Ladies Billiards Champions
Additional sources are cited within the table where used. In some cases the information in those differs from the main sources mentioned.
YearAssociationWinnerRunner-upFinal ScoreVenue
1931WBARuth HarrisonMrs. Eddowes1,000-581Burroughes Hall, London
1932WBAThelma CarpenterEthel Brown1,000-730Burroughes Hall, London
1933WBAThelma CarpenterVera Seals1,000-552Burroughes Hall, London
1934WBAThelma CarpenterVera Seals1,200–915Burroughes Hall, London
1935WBAVera SealsE Morland-Smith1,000-499Burroughes Hall, London
February 1936WBAVera SealsElla Morris1,000-528Burroughes Hall, London
December 1936WBAGrace PhillipsVera Seals1,000-968Burroughes Hall, London
1937WBAVictoria McDougallE Morland-Smith1,000-991Burroughes Hall, London
1938WBAVictoria McDougallG M Saunders674–563Burroughes Hall, London
1939WBAVictoria McDougall
1940–46No tournament
1947WBASadie IsaacsDoris Keene373–355Empire Club, Shaftesbury Avenue, London
1948WBAE Morland-SmithGladys Burton537–399
1949WBAMarie KeetonGladys Burton455–398
1950WBAHelen FutoSadie Isaacs420–359Burroughes Hall, London
1951WBAE Morland-SmithHelen Futo431–408Burroughes Hall, London
1952WBAE Morland-Smith
1953WBAE Morland-SmithHelen Futo411–388
1954WBAHelen FutoMaureen Barrett448–430Burroughes Hall, London
1955WBAMaureen BarrettE Morland-Smith451–401Burroughes Hall, London
1956WBAMaureen Barrett
1957WBAMaureen BarrettE Morland-Smith553–334London
1958No tournament
1959WBAE. Morland-SmithMrs. Rae Craven330–328London
1960WBAMuriel HazeldeneMrs Rae Craven339–324Burroughes Hall, London
1961No tournament
1962WBAThea HindmarchMrs Rae Craven438–385Burroughes Hall, London
1963WBASadie IsaacsMrs Rae Craven485–315Burroughes Hall, London
1964WBAMaureen Baynton Mrs Rae Craven649–336London
1965WBAVera YouleMrs Rae Craven393–386
1966WBAMaureen Baynton Vera Youle514–319Burroughes Hall, London
1967WBAThea HindmarchSally Bartley416–319
1968WBAMaureen Baynton Mrs Rae Craven434–265Billiards and Snooker Centre, London
1969WBAThea HindmarchVera Selby452–409
1970WBAVera Selby
1971WBAVera SelbyMrs Rae Craven506–304
1972WBAVera Selby
1973WBAVera Selby
1974WBAVera SelbyThea Hindmarch
1975No tournament
1976WBAVera SelbyMrs Rae Craven407–157
1977WBAVera Selby
1978WBAVera SelbyMaureen Baynton 366–319
1979WBAMaureen Baynton Vera Selby
1980–97No tournament
1998WLBSAKaren CorrEmma Bonney403–219
1999WLBSAKaren CorrKelly Fisher354–276
2000WLBSAEmma BonneyCaroline Walch218–50
2001WLBSAKelly FisherEmma Bonney290–219Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon
2002WLBSAEmma BonneyKelly Fisher227–196Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon
2003WLBSAKelly FisherEmma Bonney299–155Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon
2004No tournament
2005WLBSAAnuja ThakurLynette Horsburgh243–136Cambridge Snooker Centre
2006WLBSAChitra MagimairajEmma Bonney193–164Cambridge Snooker Centre
2007WLBSAChitra MagimairajEmma Bonney187–148Cambridge Snooker Centre
2008WLBSAEmma BonneyEva Palmius216–119
2009WLBSAEmma BonneyChitra Magimairaj272–118Cambridge Snooker Centre
2010WLBSAEmma BonneyChitra Magimairaj269–220Stadium Snooker Club, Birmingham
2011WLBSAEmma BonneyTina Owen-Sevilton202–181Pot Black Sports Bar, Bury St Edmunds
2012WLBSARevanna UmadeviEmma Bonney201–143Cambridge Snooker Centre
2013WLBSAEmma BonneyEva Palmius329–207Cambridge Snooker Centre
Apr-14WLBSAEmma BonneyRevanna Umadevi226–209Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds
Oct-14WLBSAEmma BonneyRevanna Umadevi237–191Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds
2015WLBSAEmma BonneyRochy Woods334–119Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds
2016WLBSEmma BonneyRevanna Umadevi239–169Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds
2017WLBSEmma BonneyEva Palmius295–185Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds
2018World BilliardsEmma BonneyRebecca Kenna329–209Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds
2019World BilliardsAnna LynchJudy Dangerfield244–204Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, Melbourne

Wins by player

NameCountryWins
Emma Bonney England13
Vera Selby England8
Maureen Baynton England7
E Morland-Smith England5
Thelma Carpenter England3
Victoria McDougall England3
Thea Hindmarch England3
Kelly Fisher England2
Sadie Isaacs England2
Chitra Magimairaj India2
Vera Seals England2
Helen Futo England2
Karen Corr Northern Ireland2
Anuja Thakur India1
Marie Keeton England1
Muriel Hazeldene England1
Ruth Harrison England1
Vera Youle England1
Revanna Umadevi India1
Grace Phillips England1
Anna Lynch Australia1