A former men's World Champion against the best female player in the world. It was always going to attract more attention than a normal first round qualifier for the Crucible. And it certainly lived up to the hype.
Ken Doherty narrowly edged out Reanne Evans 10-8 in a thrilling match at Ponds Forge in Sheffield yesterday. Evans won a lot of plaudits in her attempt to become the first female to qualify for the World Championships and although he was the eventual victor, Doherty added to those plaudits by saying that Evans in fact deserved to win the match.
Delighted to get thru ,that was one of the toughest matches I've played in this World Championships,@evans_reanne deserved it more than me
— Ken Doherty Official (@kendoherty1997) April 9, 2015
He then went as far to call on World Snooker to give Evans a wildcard to play in every event on the tour next year.
I hope @WorldSnooker1 make a good decision and give @evans_reanne a full wildcard to play in every event next year,why not??She deserves it
— Ken Doherty Official (@kendoherty1997) April 9, 2015
However, that opinion has been met with quite a bit of resistance.
@kendoherty1997 @WorldSnooker1 @evans_reanne if your good enough, wild cards are not required.
— Matt Lee (@mattlee147) April 10, 2015
@kendoherty1997 @richardord @georgeyboy @WorldSnooker1 @evans_reanne Ken is that not unfair on q school? Especially when she has failed q b4
— Craig Brown (@eltonschlong) April 10, 2015
The man in charge, Barry Hearn, also resisted calls for Evans to be fast tracked into the main draw, insisting that she must go through qualifying school.
@andygoldstein05 @evans_reanne @WorldSnooker1 Q school beckons. No special rules.
— Barry Hearn (@BarryHearn) April 10, 2015
@andygoldstein05 @evans_reanne @WorldSnooker1 No. She has had a card before and lost it. Level playing field for everyone - its the only way
— Barry Hearn (@BarryHearn) April 10, 2015
