Snooker queen Ng On-yee wins Australian Women’s Open to end 18-month title drought

Hong Kong’s snooker queen Ng On-yee ended her 18-month title drought following Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over India’s Amee Kamani in the final of the Australian Women’s Open. 

This win also marks her 18th career ranking title on the World Women’s Snooker Tour. 

Ng was previously crowned at the Winchester Women’s Open in April 2022 for defeating women’s snooker world number one Nutcharut Wongharuthai from Thailand. 

The 32-year-old came top of her group with a hat-trick of 3-0 triumphs and then beat Lilly Meldrum 3-0 in the quarterfinal and Jessica Woods 4-0 in the semifinal. 

In today’s final, Ng won the first two games 68:28 and 74:24. Although Kamani beat Ng in the third round by 67:24, Ng took charge of the remaining two games and beat the Indian by 64:59 and 92:32. 

Ng also hit a break of 112 points when facing Meldrum in the quarterfinal – a tournament high that marks her eighth century break on the tour. 

“It has been a very, very long time since I last won a ranking title on the World Women’s Snooker Tour. The last one was probably the Winchester Open last April. 

“I have been in great form and playing in amateur men’s snooker competitions,” Ng said. 

Ng also said she is now more comfortable as she no longer plays at professional level. “I used to be stressed out about keeping my ranking and qualification for tournaments,” she added. 

“Sometimes, I think I should show improvement and progress when returning to women’s snooker competitions. 

“Now there are more players in women’s snooker who can play really well. The upcoming games will definitely be tougher than the previous ones and I will do my best.” 

Ng continued that although snooker wasn’t one of the events in this year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, she hopes good news, including the government relaxing entry restrictions to billiards rooms, would help bring the sport back to the Asiad. 

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung congratulated Ng on winning the title and said her achievements reflect the importance of beginning training for elite athletes at a young age. 

“I hope the legislative amendments proposed by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, which include relaxation in terms of restricted hours and the minimum age of young people’s entry into licensed billiard establishments, would help nurturing more billiard athletes,” Yeung said.