Reanne Evans insisted yesterday that her World Championship bid is “do or die” for women in snooker.

The 29-year-old from Dudley is aiming to be the first woman to qualify for the World Championship in Sheffield this month when she faces former champion Ken Doherty in qualifying.

Evans has won 10 women’s world titles and plays Irishman Doherty at Ponds Forge in Sheffield on Thursday.

And, while her profile is dwarfed by the men’s game, Evans knows she must take her chance.

“As much as it’s brilliant, you get the added pressure. I’m do or die for the ladies. You have to accept it, that’s the way it is,” she said.

“I hope it all goes in the right direction. It’s going to take time and I’m getting old now, all the wrinkles are showing.

“If I don’t get to play (in the main draw), I hope (my attempt to qualify will inspire) the young girls because they need to see a future in the game.

“We don’t need every match on TV but it’s just to show ladies are playing snooker and it might invite more players in.

“When I first started playing I didn’t even know there was a ladies’ tour. If I didn’t know, and I was into it, how are other people going to find out?

“We just need it public and to make sure there are female players out there.”

Opponent Doherty won the Crucible title in 1997 but Evans admits she is dreaming of making the main draw, which will require her to win three best-of-19-frame matches.

She said: “Everybody wants to dream and sometimes they come true. It’s going to be such a tough ask, to win one is hard but to win three is going to be mega-tough.

“You have to go out there and play your best game and hopefully on the day you’ll win.

“There are that many good players out there even down the rankings — look at Ben Woollaston, who would have thought he’d have got to the Welsh Open final? But you never know if you don’t try.”

by Our Sports Desk