Evans makes her point in battle of the exes
Women’s champion snubs former partner
Mark Allen edged past Reanne Evans in their battle of the sexes and exes at the British Open last night as bad blood between the pair flared up once more.
Dudley’s Evans, 35, is the reigning and 12-time women’s world champion, and Northern Ireland’s Allen is a former winner of the prestigious Masters event. But this contest at the Morningside Arena in Leicester offered something very different – a first-round clash billed as the ultimate grudge match.
The tension was evident before a ball had even been potted, with Evans ruthlessly snubbing Allen’s proffered fist bump – but the world No 10 squeaked through 3-2. Equally, there was no exchange at the end as Evans walked straight out.
Men playing women on a level sporting playing field remains rare. But the strained personal history between the players put last night’s match into a unique realm. Meeting an ex in public can be delicate. Few have to do it in front of a crowd of hundreds, with millions watching agog on TV. The pair had a threeyear relationship that ended 13 years ago, but events this year ensured that relations were plummeting towards zero before this event.
At the World Championships in the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield in April, Allen demanded that Evans, a BBC pundit for the day, be removed from the room while he practised. The practice tables were adjacent to the TV presenting studio and Allen, 35, claimed that Evans was a distraction.
Controversially, World Snooker Tour officials agreed and asked her to leave. Evans reluctantly agreed, but was later said to be upset and embarrassed by the incident.
All this has taken place against the backdrop of legal proceedings that have seen the pair in court, as Evans claimed more financial support for their now teenage daughter.
The 15-year-old arrived with her mother last night before taking her seat in the auditorium, and a gauntlet was soon thrown down.
Evans walked out first, punching the air and geeing up the crowd, with Allen, sporting a mask, following well behind. Allen then nervously offered a greeting before Evans broke off, but he was left hanging as she shunned the attempt and turned her back on him before sending the cue ball down the table.
For that breach of etiquette, she could face disciplinary action. If Allen was rattled, he hid it well, taking the opening frame. And after Evans levelled at 1-1, she showed a more conciliatory side, apologising for an outrageous fluke in frame three. But agonisingly, she missed a golden chance and match-ball red to close out a famous win in frame four, allowing Allen a way back.
Evans defended her pre-match actions, saying: “I was told at the start no handshakes or anything because of Covid, so I was visualising starting the match and just went straight to the table.
“No one wanted that match, but you have to accept it, it is sport and these things are going to happen. I am sick of losing these deciders. I couldn’t feel my arms or my legs by the end, with all the nerves and tension. I did settle a bit after the first frame and fancied the job.”
Allen said: “It was horrible, and not something I really want to be doing again. I tried to stay professional, and I think I did that and can hold my head up high. Reanne played really well for 2½ frames. I’d rather not answer any questions about her refusing the fist bump. I just wanted to get through this match for obvious reasons, but overall my form is good and hopefully I can take that on.”
This tie was always a possibility once Evans and Hong Kong’s Ng On Yee, ranked the top two in the women’s game, earned two-year professional cards on the main tour. That the draw arrived in just the second tournament of the season was a shock.
And a clearly awkward meeting had in a mildly ghoulish way captured not only the imagination of fans and players, but also the wider public, who collectively winced at the discomfort.
John Higgins rattled in a superb 12th career 147 to get his bid for a fifth title in the revived British Open off to a flying start.
The 46-year-old from Glasgow knocked in his maximum in the first frame of a 3-1 win over Switzerland’s Alexander Ursenbacher.