British Open Champion Emma Bonney is making plans for Nigel

BRITISH Open snooker champion Emma Bonney promised long-term boyfriend Nigel a Christmas present after replacing Reanne Evans as women’s world number one.

Bonney clinched a second World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association title with a 3-0 victory over world number five June Banks at the Newmarket Snooker & Bowl on Saturday, November 15.

“A Christmas present?” laughed the bubbly 32-year-old from Portsmouth, clutching the £200 top prize. “It means he gets one now.”

Six days after returning from Austria with a third-place finish at the IBSF World Championships, Bonney joined a 20-strong field for the third WLBSA ranking event of the season,

She beat shock semi-finalist Suzie Opacic 3-0 to set up a clash with good friend Banks.

“It was quite a relaxed, friendly atmosphere,” said Bonney, who did not drop a frame all day. “We both have a bit of a joke because I get on well with June. She’s one of my best friends in snooker.”

Bonney was dubbed ‘Queen of the South’ after ending a run of seven losing finals on the WLBSA circuit with a first tournament win at the South Coast Classic in Eastbourne in February this year.

“I’m a bit more steady in matches and a bit more sensible at the end of frames,” explained the three-time world billiards champion.

World number seven Opacic, 20, from Hampshire, who posted the day’s top break of 80 - a personal best - against Vicky Ashby in the last 16, beat defending champion Maria Catalano 3-0 in the quarter-finals.

Evans, winner of the first two WLBSA tournaments, who clinched a third IBSF world championship last weekend, was in action on the EASB Pro-Ticket Tour in Leeds and missed the trip to Newmarket.

England international Hannah Jones, 12, from Derby, claimed a second successive junior title. Ashby (Hemel Hempstead) won the Plate competition and Martina Lumsden (Eastbourne) lifted the Seniors trophy.

WLBSA chairman Mandy Fisher was forced to change the venue to Newmarket after the sudden closure on October 27 of Rushden Snooker Club, which has since been re-opened as the Windmill Club.

Fisher thanked manager Tony Carr for stepping in at short notice and for the wonderful hospitality.

RESULTS (breaks):

LAST 32: Hannah Jones bt Jan Hughes 3-1, Maureen Logan bt Charlotte Holloway 3-0, Marianne Williams bt Naomi Clare 3-2, Jenny Poulter bt Gaye Jones 3-0.

LAST 16: Maria Catalano (55) bt Hannah Jones 3-1, Suzie Opacic (80) bt Vicky Ashby 3-0, Chris Sharpe bt Martina Lumsden 3-0, Emma Bonney (37) bt Logan 3-0, Katie Henrick bt Williams 3-0, Joanne Davies bt Georgina Holloway 3-0, Eva Palmius bt Tina Owen-Sevilton 3-1, June Banks bt Poulter 3-0.

QUARTER-FINALS: Opacic bt Catalano 3-0, Bonney bt Sharpe 3-0, Henrick (55) bt Davies 3-0, Banks (42) bt Palmius 3-0.

SEMI-FINALS: Bonney bt Opacic 3-0, Banks bt Henrick 3-0.

FINAL (£200/£100): Bonney bt Banks 3-0.

PLATE

LAST 16: Ashby bt Lumsden 2-1, Hughes bt Charlotte Holloway 2-0, Georgina Holloway by Clare 2-1.

QUARTER-FINALS: Ashby bt Logan 2-0, Owen-Sevilton bt Hughes 2-0, Gaye Jones bt Georgina Holloway 2-0, Poulter bt Williams 2-0.

SEMI-FINALS: Ashby bt Owen-Sevilton 2-0, Gaye Jones bt Poulter 2-0.

FINAL: Ashby bt Gaye Jones 2-0.

SENIORS

Lumsden bt Gaye Jones 1-0, Hughes bt Logan 1-0, Poulter bt Palmius 1-0.

SEMI-FINALS: Lumsden bt Sharpe 1-0, Poulter bt Hughes 1-0.

FINAL: Lumsden bt Poulter 1-0.

JUNIORS

QUARTER-FINALS: Hannah Jones bt Charlotte Holloway 1-0.

SEMI-FINALS: Jones bt Naomi Clare 1-0, Joanne Davies bt Georgina Holloway 1-0.

FINAL: Jones bt Davies 1-0.

Entry list:

WLBSA provisional rankings post British Open

Next ranking event:

Ladies Snooker Championship

Saturday, February 7, 2009

The Q-Ball Snooker Club

126-134 Seaside

Eastbourne

BN22 7QP