Reanne Evans: becoming a snooker professional is the easy part…

Reanne Evans took time out from celebrating victory in the Connie Gough National Championship at Fareham Snooker Club to talk about the harsh realities of life on the pro-circuit.

After being presented with the trophy by the club’s owner Serena Sinanan (pictured above), the six-time women’s world champion said getting on the tour was the “easiest part”. Staying there was the problem.

A 3-0 win over Portsmouth’s Emma Bonney in the Connie Gough final extended Evans’ unbeaten run on the women’s circuit to 84 matches.

But she did not win a single match as a professional in the whole of the 2010/11 season.

“The easiest part is getting on the tour,” said the 25-year-old mother-of-one from Dudley, West Midlands. “The hardest part is staying on the tour.

“Everybody will know how hard it is to actually get on the tour.”

Evans added: “Balls, tables, your opponents, the area you play in, the atmosphere. Everything is totally different.

“And, obviously, you don’t get too many chances.

“You just need luck on your side. Everyone needs luck, no matter how well you play.”

Evans had this advice for Cuestars members.

“You have to try and play on those sort of tables,” she said.

“And play opponents that are already on the tour. That’s when you’ll notice the big difference in the way that you play.

“Even though I haven’t won a game, I feel like I’ve come on leaps and bounds.

“I’ve lost about a million frames on the pink or black.”

The Connie Gough National Championship was the fifth leg of the World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association tour.

Next up is the world championships at the Pot Black Sports Bar, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, from Friday, April 8 to Wednesday, April 13.

The WLBSA offers scholarships to girls aged under 16. They play for free in all events – including the World Championships. For more details, contact Tim Dunkley.