He may not be Bobby Riggs, but Ken Doherty has the ability to set back women's snooker years on Thursday, in the estimation of his upcoming opponent.
In an intriguing match-up, he faces 10-times women's world champion Reanne Evans in the a World Championship qualifier on Thursday.
The 29 year old Englishwoman feels a big weight of responsibility going in. She reckons a loss could be really slow the development of the women's game.
As much as it’s brilliant, you get the added pressure. I’m do or die for the ladies. You have to accept it, that’s the way it is.
I hope it all goes in the right direction. If I don’t get to play (in the main draw), I hope (my attempt to qualify will inspire) the young girls because they need to see a future in the game.
We don’t need every match on TV but it’s just to show ladies are playing snooker and it might invite more players in.
When I first started playing I didn’t even know there was a ladies tour. If I didn’t know, and I was into it, how are other people going to find out?
We just need it public and to make sure there are lady players out there.
Evans defeated John Higgins 4-3 in the Six-Red World Championship (that's snooker with six red balls on the table at the outset rather than 15) and entered the main circuit for the 2010-11 season, though she failed to win a match and was unable to qualify for the following season.
