WPBSA Eligibility Policy and Rules for Open and Women’s Tournaments

The WPBSA has issued its new Eligibility Policy and Rules for Open and Women’s tournaments.

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. As part of this review the WPBSA has taken extensive legal advice. Our position has always been that the policy would be subject to immediate review should there be future ratified research findings or changes in guidance from appropriate sources. These cases and the studies relied upon as evidence have changed the landscape leading to the review.

As a result of the findings from the review the WPBSA has today published its Eligibility Policy and Rules for Open and Women’s tournaments. The main change from the previous policy is that 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 WPBSA is an inclusive organisation and all players – irrespective of their biological sex, legal sex and/or gender identity – may compete in open tournaments.