Ng On Yee’s recent dominance of the women’s game continued at the weekend as she kickstarted her 2018/19 campaign by successfully defending the LITEtask UK Women’s Championship in Leeds.
The world champion, who was seeded through to the last 16 of the competition, edged Suzie Opacic in a tight initial encounter that went the distance before firmly establishing her control on proceedings.
The Hone Kong star subsequently recorded whitewash victories over Ploychompoo Laokiatphong and countrywoman Jaique Ip Wan In to reach the final showdown.
Against England’s Rebecca Kenna, Ng lost her only other frame of the tournament but it didn’t matter much as the world number one comfortably sealed glory courtesy of a 4-1 scoreline.
It marks the fourth time that Ng has won the UK Women’s Championship and it prolongs a hot streak that has seen her establish herself as the leading player in the sport.
Prime rival Reanne Evans, an 11-time world champion and no stranger to experiencing domination, was expected to be the main challenger again but the 32 year-old suffered a surprising exit to Kenna in the first knockout round.
En route to the final, Kenna also beat Jenny Poulter and promising young Thai star Nutcharut Wongharuthai – the latter after a nail-biting deciding frame thriller that was determined on the final black.
Six Asian players in all, from both Thailand and Hong Kong, were among the eight quarter-finalists, which perhaps outlines the shift in the pendulum towards where the women’s game is headed in future years.
In the side events, 16 year-old Shannon Metcalf overcame Opacic 3-2 to claim victory in the Challenge Cup while Poulter prevailed in the Seniors tournament.
The next event on the World Women’s Snooker Tour is the European Masters in October.
