Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Trans competitors banned from snooker worldwide

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/04/trans-competitors-banned-from-snooker-worldwide/

Greg Owen (3 April 2026)

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced on Friday that transgender competitors are now banned from playing snooker worldwide, The Telegraph reported.

The decision follows a ruling from the Supreme Court of the U.K. last April that the legal definition of a woman under the country's 2010 Equality Act is based on "biological sex."

The announcement from the billiards and snooker governing body also referred to a lawsuit brought by a trans player against another snooker association with a ban on trans competitors. Her suit was turned back by a lower court in August last year.

"Following on from the Supreme Court ruling in April 2025 and the subsequent case of Harriet Haynes and the English Blackball Federation in August 2025, the WPBSA has conducted a thorough review of its trans and gender diverse policy," the governing sports body said.

"The WPBSA considers snooker to be a 'gender-affected activity' for the purposes of Section 195 The Equality Act 2010 and that only biological female players may compete in women's tournaments governed by the WPBSA," the announcement continued.

The WPBSA maintained that it is "an inclusive organization" and added that "all players – irrespective of their biological sex, legal sex and/or gender identity – may compete in open tournaments."

Quote from: Jessica_Rose on Yesterday at 09:05:40 PM'gender-affected activity' for the purposes of Section 195 The Equality Act 2010

From https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/195 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/195)

A gender-affected activity is a sport, game or other activity of a competitive nature in circumstances in which the physical strength, stamina or physique of average persons of one sex would put them at a disadvantage compared to average persons of the other sex as competitors in events involving the activity.

And how exactly does this apply to snooker?

It is not a game of strength, stamina, or physique.

According to Dr. Paul McCarthy (not Paul McCarthy, the musician):

Snooker stands out from most sports. While many games need physical strength, snooker players just need good mental focus and smart thinking. The game is available to people of all physical abilities, but mental toughness separates the champions from regular players.

Source (https://www.drpaulmccarthy.com/post/the-secret-psychology-of-snooker-what-champions-never-tell-you#:~:text=Snooker%20stands%20out%20from%20most,focus%20and%20smart%20thinking%20%5B1%5D.)

What I've learned from trans bans is that trans women are so beautiful, athletic, and smart that cis women stand no chance against them lol.

Quote from: Scylla on Today at 02:31:37 PMWhat I've learned from trans bans is that trans women are so beautiful, athletic, and smart that cis women stand no chance against them lol.

And the irony is that it is cis-men who feel threatened and pass laws to protect women from "men". They really have no clue what being trans even means, let alone how it affects our thinking and behavior.

Quote from: Lori Dee on Yesterday at 09:33:48 PMFrom https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/195 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/section/195)

A gender-affected activity is a sport, game or other activity of a competitive nature in circumstances in which the physical strength, stamina or physique of average persons of one sex would put them at a disadvantage compared to average persons of the other sex as competitors in events involving the activity.

And how exactly does this apply to snooker?

It is not a game of strength, stamina, or physique.

According to Dr. Paul McCarthy (not Paul McCarthy, the musician):

Snooker stands out from most sports. While many games need physical strength, snooker players just need good mental focus and smart thinking. The game is available to people of all physical abilities, but mental toughness separates the champions from regular players.

Source (https://www.drpaulmccarthy.com/post/the-secret-psychology-of-snooker-what-champions-never-tell-you#:~:text=Snooker%20stands%20out%20from%20most,focus%20and%20smart%20thinking%20%5B1%5D.)

It's men making these decisions so they maybe their chauvinist mind thinks women have smaller brains than men so trans women have an unfair advantage? Morons clearly. I've never heard anything so ridiculous!