Welsh player Kristy-Lee Davies defeated Harriet Haynes, a trans-identified male formerly named Chris, in the Ultimate Pool group mini-series championships on Oct. 13. The competition garnered criticism for allowing trans-identified males to compete in the women's category. Further controversy erupted when the only two biological male contestants who entered the competition squared off against each other in the semi-finals after dominating their female competitors, Reduxx reported.
Haynes defeated trans opponent Lucy Smith in the semi-finals before losing to Davies in the championships. Lynne Pinches, a female professional pool player who refused to compete against Haynes in the Women's Champion of Champions final last year, was delighted to see Davies defeat Haynes, describing the victory as "phenomenal." Pinches was one of three women who protested playing against Haynes last year, an effort that was supported by the Women's Rights Network.
The Women's Rights Network praised Davies for her win "despite the best efforts of the pool authorities to scupper her chances by allowing two males to compete in the female category," the group said. However, the organization noted that the trans competitor will still get to pick up prize money, which WRN declared "rightfully belongs to a woman."
Trans-identified athletes are permitted to participate in the sport without any limitations, as stipulated by the English Pool Association and World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF), the regulating bodies of the Ultimate Pool Group. The EPA's current transgender bylaws have been under review since December 2023, as indicated on their website.
The WEPF announced last year that only women born as females would be allowed to compete in the women's division, but they soon overturned their decision after facing criticism from the radical LGBTQ community. However, the governing board imposed restrictions on trans-identified male's ability to compete, requiring athletes to identify as women for at least four years and have low testosterone levels. In January, female players filed a lawsuit against the WEPF, seeking that males be banned from participating in their competitions.
