Why more women are taking up snooker in 2025 — rising stars you should know
- Robin Alexander
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
Snooker has always been a sport of tiny margins, patience and surgical cue control. But in 2025 the game is changing in a different way: the women’s side of snooker is no longer a niche corner of cue sports — it’s growing faster, getting bigger stages, drawing new sponsors and producing a crop of exciting young talents who are crossing over into the men’s professional scene. This article explains why more women are taking up snooker in 2025, what structural changes are driving that growth, and which rising stars you should know (with the facts and sources behind each claim). Whether you’re a long-time snooker fan or are curious about why the women’s game suddenly feels unignorable, read on.
The big picture: what's different in 2025
Several concrete changes around governance, events, broadcast and grassroots have combined to create momentum for women’s snooker:
1. Official pathways into the pro tour now exist.Since 2021 the World Women’s Snooker tour became an official qualification pathway to the World Snooker Tour: the women’s world champion is awarded a professional tour card (two seasons), meaning elite female players can move from the women’s circuit onto the main professional tour. That structural link has made snooker an attractive, realistic career route for women.
2. Larger events, new locations and market investment.World Snooker Tour and World Women’s Snooker (WWS) have increased the number and profile of women’s events and staged flagship competitions in high-growth markets — notably China. The World Women’s Championship (Mandy Fisher Trophy) was held in Dongguan (Changping) in 2024 and returned there in 2025, reflecting both strategic investment and strong local interest. Greater venue stature and geographic expansion matter — they attract sponsors, broadcasters and grassroots players.
3. Better broadcast and social-media visibility.Women's events are now streamed on mainstream platforms and Chinese social apps (TikTok/Douyin, Weixin) during major events — boosting reach, engagement and the sense that women's snooker is content-worthy. More eyeballs → more sponsors → more money for development.
4. Growing prize funds and Tour investment (knock-on effect).While the biggest prize jumps are on the men’s tour, World Snooker Tour’s recent announcements about prize-fund increases across events signal a healthier commercial environment for snooker overall — a rising tide that helps fund women’s competitions and mixed events. Investment that improves visibility and purses creates a virtuous circle that brings new players into the sport.
The combination of those four practical changes (real tour access, shrine-level events, broadcast reach, and commercial investment) converts snooker from a hobby to a viable, visible career option. That clarity alone is enough to persuade many more young women — especially in Asia and the UK — to pick up a cue.
Cultural drivers: role models, mixed events and media stories
Sport grows fastest when success stories become visible. Over the last few seasons the women’s game has produced multiple high-profile narratives:
Crossover matches and mixed events (like the World Mixed Doubles) pair top female players with men’s stars on big stages; those matches create compelling TV moments and show female players competing next to household names. Reanne Evans teamed with Luca Brecel to win the 2024 World Mixed Doubles, for example — a headline-grabbing result that merchandise, broadcasters and fans noticed.
Multiple national ‘breakouts’ — Thailand and China have developed strong pipelines, producing world champions and tour card winners. The presence of several Asian champions has helped spark local interest, academy investment and junior enrolment. (See the “rising stars” section below.)
High-performance benchmarks — exceptional feats (e.g., Mink Nutcharut is the only woman known to have made a 147 in practice) add mythic status and help sell the sport’s excitement. Those milestones feed coverage and inspire newcomers.
Visible champions + headline events + easier routes into the pro ranks = a compelling story for aspiring players and parents deciding what sport to support.
Why Asia matters (and why growth there accelerates global uptake)
Two regional facts have been transformational:
China’s appetite for cue sports is massive. Staging the World Women’s Championship in Dongguan (and streaming it heavily on local apps) was not just symbolic — it’s practical: local federations, sponsors and junior programs mobilise around major events, creating more entry points for girls into snooker.
Thailand’s pathway shows success breeds success. Thailand has produced multiple elite women players (Mink Nutcharut, Baipat Siripaporn) who have won world titles and earned (or contested) places on the professional tour. That success feeds academies, sponsorship and a culture that treats snooker as a serious competitive sport for women.
When countries with huge youth populations (China, Thailand) start producing champions and hosting events, the global talent pool deepens fast. For many young women across Asia in 2025, snooker suddenly looks like an accessible, respected sporting path rather than a curiosity.
The practical pathways: how a woman today becomes a pro
If you’re wondering what changed on the practical side — here’s the pathway in simple terms:
Local clubs & WWS satellite events — players start at the club level and enter World Women’s Snooker regional events (national ranking events feed the WWS tour).
World Women’s Snooker Tour — accumulating ranking points and competing at WWS events gives exposure and entry into marquee tournaments.
Win (or finish top) in flagship women's tournaments — winners of the Women’s World Championship can receive a World Snooker Tour card for two seasons, providing a direct bridge.
Q School / qualifiers — some players still go via Q School or perform in qualifiers to earn tour places, but the women’s champion route reduces the barrier and provides a clearer reward for success.
A visible, guaranteed route to the main tour changes the calculus for players and their backers (coaches, clubs, sponsors).
Rising stars you should know (2024–2025): short profiles
Below are concise, verified profiles of players who, by their results and visibility in 2024–2025, are driving interest in women’s snooker. These are the names fans — and talent scouts — are watching.
Bai Yulu (China) — the mainland Chinese spearhead
Bai burst into international attention by winning the World Women’s Snooker Championship in 2024 and retaining it in 2025, becoming one of the few multiple winners in recent history. Her back-to-back world-level success, youthful profile, and mainland Chinese nationality made her a high-profile role model for girls in China. She climbed the WWS rankings and helped legitimize China as a production hub for elite women’s snooker.
Nutcharut “Mink” Wongharuthai (Thailand) — flair and history-making moments
Mink is one of the most decorated modern female players and has the unique claim of making a recorded 147 in practice. She has held the WWS world number one ranking at various times, won major WWS titles and remains a high-profile crossover player who competes on mixed platforms too. Her success and style are inspiring a generation in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Baipat Siripaporn (Thailand) — the 2023 champion who kept people watching
Baipat (who won the 2023 Women’s World Championship) earned a place on the professional tour and has been part of the Thai wave pushing into main-tour opportunities. Her domestic and international results — and her presence in pro qualifiers — make her a visible example of the WWS → tour pathway.
Reanne Evans (England) — the veteran who still shifts the narrative
Evans’ record 12 women’s world titles and recent mixed-doubles success (winning the 2024 World Mixed Doubles with Luca Brecel) keep her in the headlines. Evans is both a standard-bearer and practical example of longevity: she’s shown that female players can have long, high-profile careers and even succeed in mixed formats on TV. Her name brings media attention and sponsorship to the women’s game.
Ng On-yee (Hong Kong) — the experienced champion with cross-border appeal
Ng is a multi-time world champion with a strong Asian following. Her continued presence in finals and major events helps maintain interest in Hong Kong and the wider region. In 2025 she's stayed relevant in ranking events and regional finals, underscoring the international depth of the women’s tour.
(Honourable mentions: emerging juniors and national champions in India, Australia and Europe are also contributing to the depth; local federations are reporting rising female entries at grassroots levels.)
What this growth means for clubs, coaches and sponsors
If you run a club, coach juniors, or work in sports sponsorship, the 2025 landscape signals concrete opportunities:
Clubs: invest in women-friendly timetables, female coaching hours and junior girls’ sessions. New tournaments and media visibility make it easier to attract players who want competitive exposure.
Coaches: market success stories (Bai, Mink, Baipat, Evans) and advertise pathways to WWS events and professional tour cards — that’s a persuasive recruitment message.
Sponsors: women’s snooker now offers a cost-effective way to reach a growing, engaged audience — especially in Asia where streaming is broad and youth engagement is high. Prize funds and media coverage are increasing, making sponsorships more valuable.
Common myths & realities
Myth: Women’s snooker is still tiny and irrelevant.
Reality: It’s smaller than the men’s tour, but the gap is narrowing in exposure and pathways — World Women’s Snooker is an official qualifying route to the World Snooker Tour, and flagship events in China have boosted profile and participation.
Myth: Female players can’t compete with men.
Reality: While the physical differences often cited in some sports don’t translate cleanly to cue sports, what matters is opportunity. A growing number of women now play mixed events, qualify for professional tour cards and compete in qualifiers — visibility, training, and match experience are the main determiners of performance. Examples include women who have won televised matches and mixed doubles titles, proving competitiveness on big stages.
Myth: Growth is a short-term hype cycle.
Reality: The structural changes — tour cards for champions, larger events in Asia, broadcast deals and prize-fund growth — point to sustainable foundations rather than a one-off spike.
How to get involved (if you’re a player, parent or fan)
Players: join your national WWS events, get a graded ranking, and target the World Women’s Championship — it’s the clearest route to a pro card. Start at local club sessions and enter regional qualifiers.
Parents: encourage club trial sessions and look for coaches with WWS/IBSF contacts; success stories show that junior players from Asia and the UK can now build real careers.
Fans & media: watch WWS streams and mixed events — audience growth fuels sponsorship and prize increases, which in turn create more opportunities for players. Many events are now streamed live on major platforms and Chinese apps.
What to watch in the remainder of 2025
World Women’s Snooker Championship results and the ripple effects: a champion who earns a tour card will create headlines and likely inspire a surge in entries back home. Wikipedia
Mixed events and crossover matches — more mixed-doubles and exhibition ties with men’s stars will create TV-friendly feel-good stories and highlight skill parity. wst.tv
China & Thailand development programmes — look for additional academies and scholarships announced after the success of players like Bai and Mink. World Women's Snooker
Quick takeaways (TL;DR)
Structural change matters: the WWS → World Snooker Tour pathway (tour card for women’s world champion) is the single most important policy change driving participation.
Regional investment pushed growth: staging the World Women’s Championship in China and the rise of Thai champions have created local role models and infrastructure.
Media + money = momentum: streaming, mixed events and an improving commercial environment (prize fund increases on the WST) have combined to make the sport more attractive to players and sponsors.
FAQ — quick answers to common questions
Q: Is the World Women’s Snooker Champion automatically given a professional tour card?
A: Yes — since the WWS reforms, the Women’s World Champion normally receives a professional World Snooker Tour card for the following two seasons, which opened a direct pathway to the main tour.
Q: Who won the World Women’s Championship in 2024 and 2025?
A: Bai Yulu won the title in 2024 and retained it in 2025, marking a major milestone for mainland China in women’s snooker.
Q: Are there televised events where women compete with men?
A: Yes. Events like the World Mixed Doubles (won by Luca Brecel and Reanne Evans in 2024) and a handful of qualifiers and ranking events feature women on televised stages, increasing crossover exposure.
Q: What are the best countries for women’s snooker development?
A: In 2025 the strongest pipelines are in the UK (historical base), China (rapid expansion, event-hosting and streaming) and Thailand (successful junior-to-pro pathway). These regions have produced champions and strong junior programs.
Q: I coach at a local club — what should I change to attract more female players?
A: Offer women-only beginner blocks, promote role models from national/pro circuits, run junior girls’ scholarships, and highlight the WWS → pro tour pathway in your marketing. Evidence shows visible pathways and female-centric programs increase sign-ups.
Final note
2025 feels like a hinge year for women’s snooker: structural reforms, regional investment (especially in Asia), savvy broadcasting and a clutch of charismatic champions have combined to make the sport more visible and aspirational for women than it has been in decades. The players named above are already changing expectations — and the most exciting part is that, with the current pathways and media climate, even more talent is likely to emerge in the years ahead.
Author Bio:
Dr. Robin Alexander is an MD Pathologist, passionate guitar enthusiast, and lifelong snooker fan. He combines medical precision with a love for music and sport. Connect with him on LinkedIn.