# World Women's Billiards Championship

English billiards, known in Britain as just billiards, was developed by around 1800 as a combination of earlier cue sports. Matches are played either across specified time periods, or to a specified number of points. As of 1930, many billiard halls in the UK did not admit women. That year, the British cue sports company Burroughes and Watts organised the first edition of what would become the Women's Professional Billiards Championship and then announced a Women's Amateur Billiards Championship, later recognised as the World Women's Billiards Championship. The first rounds of the amateur tournament would be played at regional venues, with the regional winners qualifying for the semi-finals and final at Burroughes Hall in London. Ruth Harrison was the champion from 23 participants, and the highest break made was 28.
The Women's Billiards Association took over responsibility for the amateur tournament from the 1932 edition, which had 41 entries. Thelma Carpenter made the highest break, 45, on her way to winning the title. Carpenter won in 1933 and 1934 to complete a hat-trick of victories, before turning professional. Vera Seals, a receptionist from Chesterfield who had learnt the game from male world professional billiards champion Joe Davis, took the 1935 amateur 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 (née Barrett) winning six. Evelyn Morland-Smith was another player to win multiple titles; her last was in 1960 when she was 75.
After a period of dormancy from 1980, the tournament was revived by the World Ladies' Billiards and Snooker Association (WLBSA) in 1998, and Karen Corr won the first of two titles. The WLBSA became a subsidiary organisation of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association in 2015, and was renamed World Women's Snooker in 2019. As of 2024, World Billiards, another subsidiary company of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, runs the competition. Emma Bonney has won the title a record 13 times, between 2000 and 2018. The 2024 champion was Shruthi L who defeated Keerath Bhandaal 215–202.

## Finals

World Women's Billiards Championship finals :
| Year | Organiser | Winner | Runner-up | Final score | Venue |
| 1931 | Burroughes and Watts | Ruth Harrison (ENG) | Ellen Eddowes (ENG) | 1,000-581 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1932 | WBA | Thelma Carpenter (ENG) | Ethel Brown (ENG) | 1,000-730 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1933 | WBA | Thelma Carpenter (ENG) | Vera Seals (ENG) | 1,000-552 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1934 | WBA | Thelma Carpenter (ENG) | Vera Seals (ENG) | 1,200–915 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1935 | WBA | Vera Seals (ENG) | Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) | 1,000-499 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1936 | WBA | Vera Seals (ENG) | Ella Morris (ENG) | 1,000-528 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1937 | WBA | Grace Phillips (ENG) | Vera Seals (ENG) | 1,000-968 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1938 | WBA | Victoria McDougall (ENG) | Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) | 1,000-991 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1939 | WBA | Victoria McDougall (ENG) | G M Saunders (ENG) | 674–563 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1940–46 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1947 | WBA | Sadie Isaacs (ENG) | Doris Keene (ENG) | 373–335 | Empire Club, Shaftesbury Avenue, London |
| 1948 | WBA | Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) | Gladys Burton (ENG) | 537–399 | Thurston's Hall, London |
| 1949 | WBA | Marie Keeton (ENG) | Gladys Burton (ENG) | 455–398 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1950 | WBA | Helen Futo (ENG) | Sadie Isaacs (ENG) | 420–359 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1951 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1952 | WBA | Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) | Helen Futo (ENG) | 431–408 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1953 | WBA | Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) | Helen Futo (ENG) | 411–388 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1954 | WBA | Helen Futo (ENG) | Maureen Barrett (ENG) | 448–430 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1955 | WBA | Maureen Barrett (ENG) | Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) | 451–401 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1956 | WBA | Maureen Barrett (ENG) | unknown | unknown | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1957 | WBA | Maureen Barrett (ENG) | Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) | 553–334 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1958 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1959 | WBA | Evelyn Morland-Smith (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 330–328 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1960 | WBA | Muriel Hazeldene (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 339–324 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1961 | WBA | Maureen Barrett (ENG) | Thea Hindmarch (ENG) | 542–506 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1962 | WBA | Thea Hindmarch (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 438–385 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1963 | WBA | Sadie Isaacs (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 485–315 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1964 | WBA | Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 649–336 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1965 | WBA | Vera Youle (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 393–386 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1966 | WBA | Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG) | Vera Youle (ENG) | 514–319 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1967 | WBA | Thea Hindmarch (ENG) | Sally Bartley (ENG) | 416–319 | Burroughes Hall, London |
| 1968 | WBA | Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 434–265 | Billiards and Snooker Centre, Great Windmill Street, London |
| 1969 | WBA | Thea Hindmarch (ENG) | Vera Selby (ENG) | 452–409 | Billiards and Snooker Centre, Great Windmill Street, London |
| 1970 | WBA | Vera Selby (ENG) | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| 1971 | WBA | Vera Selby (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 506–304 | Billiards and Snooker Centre, Great Windmill Street, London |
| 1972 | WBA | Vera Selby (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 736–354 | London |
| 1973 | WBA | Vera Selby (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | w.o. | n/a |
| 1974 | WBA | Vera Selby (ENG) | Thea Hindmarch (ENG) | unknown | Windmill Billiards Club, London |
| 1975 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1976 | WBA | Vera Selby (ENG) | Ray Craven (ENG) | 407–157 | unknown |
| 1977 | WBA | Vera Selby (ENG) | unknown | unknown | unknown |
| 1978 | WBA | Vera Selby (ENG) | Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG) | 366–319 | Fishers, Acton, London |
| 1979 | WBA | Maureen Baynton (née Barrett) (ENG) | Vera Selby (ENG) | unknown | British Rail Staff Association, Gateshead |
| 1980–97 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1998 | WLBSA | Karen Corr (NIR) | Emma Bonney (ENG) | 403–219 | Radion Executive Club, Sheffield |
| 1999 | WLBSA | Karen Corr (NIR) | Kelly Fisher (ENG) | 354–276 | Radion Executive Club, Sheffield |
| 2000 | WLBSA | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Caroline Walch (ENG) | 218–50 | Radion Executive Club, Sheffield |
| 2001 | WLBSA | Kelly Fisher (ENG) | Emma Bonney (ENG) | 290–219 | Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon |
| 2002 | WLBSA | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Kelly Fisher (ENG) | 227–196 | Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon |
| 2003 | WLBSA | Kelly Fisher (ENG) | Emma Bonney (ENG) | 299–155 | Jesters Snooker Hall, Swindon |
| 2004 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 2005 | WLBSA | Anuja Thakur (IND) | Lynette Horsburgh (SCO) | 243–136 | Cambridge Snooker Centre |
| 2006 | WLBSA | Chitra Magimairaj (IND) | Emma Bonney (ENG) | 193–164 | Cambridge Snooker Centre |
| 2007 | WLBSA | Chitra Magimairaj (IND) | Emma Bonney (ENG) | 187–148 | Cambridge Snooker Centre |
| 2008 | WLBSA | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Eva Palmius (SWE) | 216–119 | Cambridge Snooker Centre |
| 2009 | WLBSA | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Chitra Magimairaj (IND) | 272–118 | Cambridge Snooker Centre |
| 2010 | WLBSA | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Chitra Magimairaj (IND) | 269–220 | Stadium Snooker Club, Birmingham |
| 2011 | WLBSA | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Tina Owen-Sevilton (ENG) | 202–181 | Pot Black Sports Bar, Bury St Edmunds |
| 2012 | WLBSA | Revanna Umadevi (IND) | Emma Bonney (ENG) | 201–143 | Cambridge Snooker Centre |
| 2013 | WLBSA | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Eva Palmius (SWE) | 329–207 | Cambridge Snooker Centre |
| 2014 (April) | WLBSA | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Revanna Umadevi (IND) | 226–209 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds |
| 2014 (October) | WLBSA, World Billiards | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Revanna Umadevi (IND) | 237–191 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds |
| 2015 | WLBSA, World Billiards | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Rochy Woods (ENG) | 334–119 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds |
| 2016 | WLBSA, World Billiards | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Revanna Umadevi (IND) | 239–169 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds |
| 2017 | World Billiards | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Eva Palmius (SWE) | 295–185 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds |
| 2018 | World Billiards | Emma Bonney (ENG) | Rebecca Kenna (ENG) | 329–209 | Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds |
| 2019 | World Billiards | Anna Lynch (AUS) | Judy Dangerfield (AUS) | 244–204 | Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, Melbourne |
| 2020–21 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 2022 | World Billiards | Jamie Hunter (ENG) | Snenthra Babu (IND) | 304–148 | Sharkx Academy, Newbridge |
| 2023 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 2024 | World Billiards | Shruthi L (IND) | Keerath Bhandaal (IND) | 215–202 | Landywood Snooker Club, Great Wyrley |

## Wins by player

Finalists in the World Women's Billiards Championship :
| Name | Country | Wins | Runners-up |
| Emma Bonney | England | 13 | 6 |
| Vera Selby | England | 8 | 2 |
| Maureen Baynton (Née Barrett) | England | 8 | 2 |
| Evelyn Morland-Smith | England | 4 | 4 |
| Thelma Carpenter | England | 3 | 0 |
| Thea Hindmarch | England | 3 | 2 |
| Victoria McDougall | England | 2 | 0 |
| Kelly Fisher | England | 2 | 2 |
| Sadie Isaacs | England | 2 | 1 |
| Chitra Magimairaj | India | 2 | 2 |
| Vera Seals | England | 2 | 3 |
| Helen Futo | England | 2 | 2 |
| Karen Corr | Northern Ireland | 2 | 0 |
| Anuja Thakur | India | 1 | 0 |
| Marie Keeton | England | 1 | 0 |
| Muriel Hazeldene | England | 1 | 0 |
| Ruth Harrison | England | 1 | 0 |
| Vera Youle | England | 1 | 1 |
| Revanna Umadevi | India | 1 | 3 |
| Grace Phillips | England | 1 | 0 |
| Anna Lynch | Australia | 1 | 0 |
| Jamie Hunter | England | 1 | 0 |
| Shruthi L | India | 1 | 0 |
| Ray Craven | England | 0 | 11 |
| Eva Palmius | Sweden | 0 | 3 |
| Gladys Burton | England | 0 | 2 |
| Ellen Eddowes | England | 0 | 1 |
| Ethel Brown | England | 0 | 1 |
| G M Saunders | England | 0 | 1 |
| Doris Keene | England | 0 | 1 |
| Sally Bartley | England | 0 | 1 |
| Ella Morris | England | 0 | 1 |
| Lynette Horsburgh | Scotland | 0 | 1 |
| Snethra Babu | India | 0 | 1 |
| Rochy Woods | England | 0 | 1 |
| Tina Owen-Sevilton | England | 0 | 1 |
| Caroline Walch | England | 0 | 1 |
| Rebecca Kenna | England | 0 | 1 |
| Judy Dangerfield | Australia | 0 | 1 |
| Keerath Bhandaal | India | 0 | 1 |
| unknown | – | 0 | 3 |

## IBSF Championship

In 2015, the International Billiards and Snooker Federation held its own version of a World Women's Billiards Championship. Arantxa Sanchis defeated Revanna Umadevi to take the title.
IBSF World Women's Billiards Championship final :
| Year | Organiser | Winner | Runner-up | Final score | Venue | Ref. |
| 2015 | IBSF | Arantxa Sanchis (IND) | Revanna Umadevi (IND) | 414–255 | Oceania Snooker Academy, Adelaide | |