Mark Allen defeated Reanne Evans 3-2 at the British Open last night – in what was the first time the former couple have faced each other as snooker professionals.
Allen hit a break of 68 in the deciding frame to take victory.
Evans almost secured a surprise victory, but missed what could have been a frame-deciding red in the fourth frame before Allen hit a superb clearance of 47.
Before the game began, Evans refused to shake Allen’s hand.
The pair were formerly a couple, but are reported to have split back in 2008.
In April, Allen requested that Evans, who was working for the BBC as a pundit on the World Snooker Championships, be removed from the TV studio adjacent to the practice tables at the Crucible.
The 35-year-old was then asked to leave the room, before retaking her place in the studio when the Northern Irishman’s match began.
The match
The pair were drawn together in the first round of the second-ranking event of the season.
Evans earned a two-year tour card earlier this year, making this her first season as a professional.
Allen won the first frame, before missing a yellow that allowed Evans to level the scores.
The 12-time women’s world champion then took a 2-1 lead with a composed break of 56, before a break of 60 left her on the brink of victory.
But the missed red allowed Allen the opportunity to clear up, which he did so before winning the decisive fifth frame.
After the match, Allen said: “It was horrible. It’s not something I want to really go through too often, but we had to try and remain as professional as possible and I think I did that very well.”
“She played much better than me but I made a good break to win it.”
Evans said: “I’m absolutely gutted but really proud of myself. No one wanted that match did they?
“But you have to respect that top players do what they do and it’s sport, we’re in the same sport so it’s always going to happen.”
On the handshake, she said: “I was told at the start there were no handshakes or anything, and just in my head I was visualising the start of the match so I just went straight to the table.”
Featured Image Credit: World Snooker
