Authored by Ian HuntA transgender snooker champion claims that after her opponent declined to play her in a final, she was subjected to “vile” and “horrific” abuse online.
Before giving up the title of the Women’s Champion of Champions game in Prestatyn, North Wales, Lynne Pinches shook hands with Harriet Haynes.
Pinches claimed that she did it out of “fairness” and that male-born women people have an advantage in the game.
Haynes disputes Pinches’ position and claims that the sport’s authorities concur.
“The world governing body of snooker looked into this and couldn’t find any evidence,” Haynes told Wales-based BBC Sports.
“In cue sports, they didn’t agree that men naturally have an advantage over women.”
After playing a slowdown chance to actually begin the competition, Pinches decided to forfeit their final in November, according to Haynes, who claims she was “shocked.”
Many people cheered Pinches as she walked away from the table at Prestatyn’s now-closed Pontins resort while shouting “yes Lynne!” while the affair garnered national attention, including on Fox News in the US.
It comes after what appears to be a U-turn on the transgender policy of the sport’s governing bodies, the World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF) and Ultimate Pool Group.
Participants were informed that non-binary and transgender players would not be permitted to compete against biological females, but this decision has since been overturned.
In an interview with TalkTV, a sorrowful Pinches said, “When the U-turn happened and the news happened, it completely devastated not just me but lots of people.”
“Whenever you play a transgender player, even if you win, it doesn’t matter because you know it’s unfair in your heart.”
Being physiologically male and competing against women gives you a distinct class advantage.
“I consider how unfair it is and how this level I can’t reach every time I play a transgender player before, during, and after the game.”
“I watch some of the shots they play, and I believe females don’t play these shots down the rails or clear up like this.” Many of them are taller than us, and they have a wider approach.
“People don’t talk about this issue because they believe that women have been silenced out of fear of being transphobic. It’s hardly a female concern; rather, this is an issue of fairness.”
Haynes, however, insists that trans women are “not a threat to snooker,” despite the fact that she changed gender at the age of 23 ten years ago.
She claims that despite the criticism she received on social media sites following Pinches’ walk-out, she has no ill feelings toward her opponent, the sister of snooker player Barry Pinching.
“I sincerely hope not; nobody has to experience what I have.” It was unbelievable, said Haynes.
“The abuse and responses I’ve received on social media have been a cesspool of vileness.” Fantastic. There is so much of it. A lot of disgusting abuse.
It appeared in American front-page articles. Fox News obtained it. One of the New York newspapers’ front-page stories featured me.
Many Americans picked up on that and began abusing me as also. It has been extremely painful.
I slept for three hours so that I could check my phone and delete all of my messages. I shut down one of the accounts to make it exclusive because it became too much.
“My girlfriend, my best friend, her husband, and my family are all wonderful people who surround me, so I’m very fortunate.”
However, they (abusers) won’t succeed because I’m too stubborn for that. I love playing billiards.
“I give instruction in my neighborhood so that it’s not just about me, but also about improving the game as a whole, whether it be for men, women, or men.”
The WEPF declined to comment on Pinches’ walk-out in Prestatyn or provide an explanation for why their transgender policy had been changed.
Transgender and non-binary players will be able to compete in the women’s series across World Eightball Pool Federation and Ultimate Pool Group events, the WEPF announced on their website in October, “Providing regulatory conditions are met… under section four (bylaws).”
The rules for the men’s set have not changed, and they are still available to everyone.
The Ultimate Pool Group and World Eightball Pool Federation are “remain committed to the development of the game for all individuals, and gender equality is an important part of this.”
“They made a decision in August that would have prevented me from playing starting in January,” according to Haynes.
They have changed their minds about that decision.
For more than 20 years, trans women have played billiards in a female category, according to the status quo.
“People must realize that I put a lot of time and effort into my sport in order for it to succeed.”
“I would quit playing female snooker if the rules changed and there was categorical proof that I had a significant edge over someone else. That would put an end to it.”
“Trans people are certainly a danger to snooker. It’s a pretty small portion, but we’re not coming over in droves. There is nothing to be afraid of.”
