World’s best female snooker player prepares to play her ex on TV after taking him to court

Reanne Evans, 35, who is a record 12-times women’s world champion, is set to battle Mark Allen who is the father of her child next month

The world’s best female snooker player is preparing to play her ex-partner in front of a host of cameras in the first round of the British Open tournament after she took him to court over child maintenance payments. 

Reanne Evans, 35, who has won the women’s world snooker title a record 12 times, is set to battle Mark Allen who is the father of her child next month. 

Evans, from Dudley, West Midlands, is currently battling Allen for maintenance for their 14-year-old daughter and seeking greater payments from him in the courts. 

It comes after Evans was told to leave a BBC studio minutes before she was set to join a live discussion at the World Championships in April after Allen, who was set to play, labelled her a ‘distraction’.  

But Allen, a former Masters champion, will have to go up against his ex-wife in what could be an awkward match between the former couple in August, reports The Times.   

The encounter is only able to happen due to Evans being one of the first women to play on the main British Open tour. The tournament is being held in Leicester between 16 and 22 August.

But Allen (pictured), a former Masters champion, will have to go up against his ex-wife in what could be an awkward match between the former couple in August

But Allen (pictured), a former Masters champion, will have to go up against his ex-wife in what could be an awkward match between the former couple in August

The pair got together back in 2005 , before splitting up in 2008 and things turned sour from there. 

Jason Ferguson, chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, knowing that Evans would be on the main tour told the newspaper that both players had ‘provided reassurances that should they meet in a tournament they would conduct themselves professionally, and treat the opponent like any other player’.  

It comes after Evans was told to leave the studio by BBC chiefs after Allen, who was set to play, labelled her a distraction.   

Evans, was set to join a live discussion at the World Championships before being hooked on April 20.

The BBC studio was next to the practice area, where Allen had been preparing for his upcoming match against China‘s Lyu Haotian. 

Presenter Radzi Chinyanganya and Evans were preparing for the start of the show when world no 13 Allen complained that Evans was a ‘distraction’.

After a discussion between World Snooker Tour officials and her producers, Evans agreed to leave.

Evans was told to leave the studio by BBC chiefs after Allen (pictured), who was set to play, labelled her a distraction

Evans was told to leave the studio by BBC chiefs after Allen (pictured), who was set to play, labelled her a distraction

The BBC said: ‘For the sake of ten minutes, Reanne left the players’ practice room so Mark Allen could practise before his match without distraction upon his request.’

The broadcaster also said that Evans’ broadcast commitments had not been affected by the incident. 

Record 12-times women’s world champion Evans, who is currently battling Allen for maintenance for their 14-year-old daughter, was reported to have been ‘upset’ and ’embarrassed’.

Speaking about his plea for Evans to leave, Allen said that there had been several cases of other players asking officials for people to be removed while they were practising.

‘I’m not sure why there is a fuss about this one,’ he added. 

Allen is also currently going through the courts in divorce proceedings against his estranged wife Kyla McGuigan. 

Evans, from Dudley, West Midlands, is currently battling Allen for maintenance for their 14-year-old daughter and seeking greater payments from him in the courts

Evans, from Dudley, West Midlands, is currently battling Allen for maintenance for their 14-year-old daughter and seeking greater payments from him in the courts

He has also declared himself bankrupt, despite his career earnings reaching more than £3 million from snooker. 

Allen won the match he was practising for when he said Evans was a distraction, but he was knocked out of the competition on Monday after being beaten by Mark Selby.

Following his defeat, Allen said he is planning on having ‘a bit of break’ from snooker in order to address some personal issues, the BBC reports.

Speaking after his defeat, Allen said: ‘There’s numerous things going on off the table which I’d rather not talk about.

‘I will come back but I can’t see me coming back any time soon.’

He added that it is difficult to compete against the best in the world without having a clear head to focus on his game.