Ng On Yee reveals plans to regain spot on World Snooker Tour after women's British Open setback

ByEurosport

Published 18/05/2023 at 17:29 GMT

Ng On Yee has not given up hope of reclaiming her spot on the main World Snooker Tour for the next two seasons. The three-time women's world champion lost 3-2 to Bai Yulu of China in the quarter-finals of the British Open last week to dash her hopes of an immediate return to the main circuit, but Q School in Thailand offers Ng another route back to the sport's elite ahead of the new season.

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Three-time women's world champion Ng On Yee is set to head for Q School in Thailand next month in a bid to earn a new two-year World Snooker Tour card.

The talented Hong Kong player suffered a 3-2 defeat to teenager Bai Yulu of China in the quarter-finals of the women's British Open last week to dash her hopes of remaining on the professional circuit after finishing outside the top 64 cut-off mark in the rankings.

12-time world champion Reanne Evans secured her spot on the main tour ahead of Ng courtesy of reaching the British Open final in Walsall.

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But the women's world No. 3 plans to travel to Bangkok for the 128-player Asia and Oceania Q School events which runs between 1-12 June and is open to citizens of the regions.

Four tour cards are available via the process with the two finalists from both competitions securing spots.

Dechawat Poomjaeng, Muhammad Asif, Asjad Iqbal and Himanshu Jain were successful at the inaugural event last year.

“I knew it would not be easy winning the British Open to get back on the tour,” said Ng speaking to the South China Morning Post. “Especially with all the new young talents like Bai Yulu.”

There are four places on the elite tour available via the women's tour.

Mink Nutcharut and Rebecca Kenna have another year of their respective tour cards to run with Thailand’s Baipat Siripaporn qualifying after winning the women's world title in March.

Despite losing 4-3 to Bai in the British Open title match, Evans regained the world No. 1 spot and her playing rights for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 season.

The season begins with eight places on the main circuit available via the 208-player Q School at Leicester's Morningside Arena next Friday.

The Championship League is the first ranking event of the new campaign with Leicester hosting the various groups of the competition between June 26-July 21.

World champion Luca Brecel will be among the favourites with world No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Selby and Judd Trump among the leading men who competed in last year's event.