A highly anticipated pool tournament in England was marred by controversy on Sunday when a female player forfeited her spot in the final upon realizing she would be facing off against a transgender opponent. The incident took place at the English Pool Association’s 2023 Champion of Champions Ladies tournament, where Lynne Pinches had made it all the way to the final.
Pinches, an experienced pool player with 30 years of experience, had been in top form but decided to withdraw from the tournament in protest of the association allowing transgender women to compete against natal females. As a transgender woman, Harriet Haynes was hailed as the first trans woman to participate in the final. However, upon realizing she was about to compete against a biological male, Pinches walked off the table and packed up her cue, much to the surprise of the crowd.
A female pool player reportedly refused to compete against a trans-identified male opponent at the Women’s Champions of Champions Final in Denbighshire, Wales, yesterday.
Lynne Pinches walked away from the table after being matched to play against Chris “Harriet” Haynes. pic.twitter.com/vLofQALosk
— REDUXX (@ReduxxMag) November 13, 2023
For Pinches, the decision was not about winning or losing, but rather about fairness in women’s sports. In a statement, Pinches’ brother Barry expressed his support for her decision, saying, “I have no problem whatsoever if somebody wants to identify themselves as whatever they want to be, and I have nothing against Harriet Haynes.” However, he also added that the issue of fairness in women’s sports is one that needs to be addressed.
The incident has sparked a debate about the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports, with some claiming that the physical advantages they may have are unfair to natal female athletes. Critics argue that biological males tend to have a more powerful break shot, which can give them an advantage in games such as 9-ball or 8-ball. As a precision sport, even small physical differences can make a significant impact on the outcome of a match.
The English Pool Association’s guidelines currently state that “any trans person (male or female) is permitted to participate fully, i.e. train, play in informal matches or play in pool competitions, in their affirmed gender.” This rule, however, has been met with backlash from female players who feel that their safety and fairness are being compromised.
Multiple female athletes dropped out of a women’s martial arts tournament last week after being matched up to fight trans-identified males.
In one of the women’s divisions, the only participants left competing were men.https://t.co/AdGzSWUckK
— REDUXX (@ReduxxMag) October 27, 2023
In the wake of the incident, more than 60 professional female pool players have reportedly come together to protest against the association’s decision. Alexandra Cunha, who is fifth in the international rankings, has also vowed never to compete against transgender players in the future to show her support for women’s sports.
This incident is the latest in a series of controversies surrounding transgender athletes in sports, with athletics, cycling, and swimming also changing their policies in the past year. The debate over transgender inclusion in women’s sports continues to be a divisive issue, with both sides calling for the protection of fairness and safety for all athletes. Ultimately, it is up to sports federations and governing bodies to find a balance between inclusivity and maintaining a level playing field for all athletes.
