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Revision as of 08:20, 4 October 2024 editHurricaneHiggins (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users7,700 edits →Biography: Fix inconsistencies around UK Women's Championship. Avoid calling it the "Women's UK Championship" or the "UK Championship" (latter invites confusion with the professional event).Tag: Visual edit← Previous edit Revision as of 09:25, 4 October 2024 edit undoHurricaneHiggins (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users7,700 edits minor ceTag: Visual editNext edit →
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==Biography== ==Biography==
Tessa Davidson was born on 22 April 1969,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tessa Davidson - Players - Snooker.org |url=https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=2824 |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=snooker.org |language=en |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316191440/https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=2824 |url-status=live }}</ref> and is from from ].<ref name="Ind">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=30 November 1998 |title=Snooker: Davidson Cashes in Chips to Catch Fisher |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-davidson-cashes-in-chips-to-catch-fisher-1188333.html |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=15 December 2019 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215155722/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-davidson-cashes-in-chips-to-catch-fisher-1188333.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her father was a ] coach and taught Davidson and her sister the game when they were aged about 13.<ref name="SYJ1">{{cite podcast |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hy3n6h |title=Tessa Davidson: It's an Exciting Time for Women's Snooker |work=BBC Essex |host=Shabnam Younus-Jewell |date=7 June 2024 |time=4:23–4:56 |access-date=2 October 2024 |url-access=registration |archive-date=7 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607021235/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hy3n6h |url-status=live }}</ref> In the late 1980s, he managed a snooker club in London and his daughters would stay with him and play there.<ref name="SYJ1"/> Born on 22 April 1969,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tessa Davidson - Players - Snooker.org |url=https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=2824 |access-date=16 March 2024 |website=snooker.org |language=en |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316191440/https://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?player=2824 |url-status=live }}</ref> Tessa Davidson is from from ].<ref name="Ind">{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=30 November 1998 |title=Snooker: Davidson Cashes in Chips to Catch Fisher |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-davidson-cashes-in-chips-to-catch-fisher-1188333.html |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=15 December 2019 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215155722/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/snooker-davidson-cashes-in-chips-to-catch-fisher-1188333.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Her father was a ] coach and taught Davidson and her sister the game when they were aged about 13.<ref name="SYJ1">{{cite podcast |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hy3n6h |title=Tessa Davidson: It's an Exciting Time for Women's Snooker |work=BBC Essex |host=Shabnam Younus-Jewell |date=7 June 2024 |time=4:23–4:56 |access-date=2 October 2024 |url-access=registration |archive-date=7 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607021235/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hy3n6h |url-status=live }}</ref> In the late 1980s, he managed a snooker club in London and his daughters would stay with him and play there.<ref name="SYJ1"/>


She started competing on the ] circuit in 1988,<ref name="WWSTD"/> and gained her first ranking points in April that year after defeating ].<ref name="BH6"/>{{rp|139}} In 1989, she won the UK Women's Championship, with a 4–1 victory against ] in the final.<ref name="91HALE"/> '']'' magazine described her as a "surprise winner",<ref name="UK89"/> and in the ''Benson and Hedges Snooker Year'', Gaye Jones called the result the "undoubted sensation" of the women's snooker season.<ref name="BH6">{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Gaye |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Terry |year=1989 |chapter=Ladies in snooker |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |edition=Sixth |location=Aylesbury |publisher=Pelham Books |isbn=978-0-7207-1944-4 |pages=136–139}}</ref>{{rp|138}} Davidson had defeated ] world champion ] both in the ] and quarter-final stages, and her {{cuegloss|break}} of 84, made during her 4–1 defeat of ] in the semi-finals, was the highest of the tournament.<ref name="UK89">{{cite magazine |title=Tessa Davidson Wins UK Women's Title |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=37|publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=May 1989}}</ref> After her UK Championship victory, she decided to focus on snooker, and played full-time for most of her 20s.<ref name="SYJ2">{{cite podcast |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hy3n6h |title=Tessa Davidson: It's an Exciting Time for Women's Snooker |work=BBC Essex |host=Shabnam Younus-Jewell |date=7 June 2024 |time=5:03–5:23 |access-date=2 October 2024 |url-access=registration |archive-date=7 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607021235/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hy3n6h |url-status=live }}</ref> Her next significant success was winning the 1990 Western Ladies Championship, when she overcame reigning world champion ] 3–2 in the semi-finals and world number one Hillyard 3–0 in the final.<ref name="WW90"/> In 1991, she won the Pontins Ladies' Bowl.<ref name="WW90"/><ref name="PLB91"/> She started competing on the ] circuit in 1988.<ref name="WWSTD"/> She gained her first ranking points in April that year after defeating ].<ref name="BH6"/>{{rp|139}} In 1989, she won the UK Women's Championship with a 4–1 victory against ] in the final.<ref name="91HALE"/> '']'' magazine described her as a "surprise winner",<ref name="UK89"/> and in the ''Benson and Hedges Snooker Year'', Gaye Jones called the result the "undoubted sensation" of the women's snooker season.<ref name="BH6">{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Gaye |editor-last=Smith |editor-first=Terry |year=1989 |chapter=Ladies in snooker |title=Benson and Hedges Snooker Year |edition=Sixth |location=Aylesbury |publisher=Pelham Books |isbn=978-0-7207-1944-4 |pages=136–139}}</ref>{{rp|138}} Davidson had defeated ] world champion ] both in the ] and quarter-final stages, and her {{cuegloss|break}} of 84, made during her 4–1 defeat of ] in the semi-finals, was the highest of the tournament.<ref name="UK89">{{cite magazine |title=Tessa Davidson Wins UK Women's Title |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=37|publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=May 1989}}</ref> After her UK Championship victory, she decided to focus on snooker, and she played full-time for most of her 20s.<ref name="SYJ2">{{cite podcast |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hy3n6h |title=Tessa Davidson: It's an Exciting Time for Women's Snooker |work=BBC Essex |host=Shabnam Younus-Jewell |date=7 June 2024 |time=5:03–5:23 |access-date=2 October 2024 |url-access=registration |archive-date=7 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607021235/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0hy3n6h |url-status=live }}</ref> Her next significant success was winning the 1990 Western Ladies Championship, when she overcame reigning world champion ] 3–2 in the semi-finals and world number one Hillyard 3–0 in the final.<ref name="WW90"/> In 1991, she won the Pontins Ladies' Bowl.<ref name="WW90"/><ref name="PLB91"/>


At the ], ] won the first {{cuegloss|frame}} of her semi-final against Davidson with a {{cuegloss|fluke|fluked}} {{cuegloss|pot}} of the {{cuegloss|black ball}}. She then won the second frame on a {{cuegloss|re-spotted black}} and the fourth with a fluked {{cuegloss|blue ball}} on her way to a 5–0 victory.<ref name=AFR>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Allison Fisher Regains Forte Hotels Women's World Championship |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=28–29 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=December 1991}}</ref> Later in 1991, Davidson made a break of 135 at the British Open, then the highest achieved on the women's tour.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Women's World Record |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=28 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=December 1991}}</ref> Davidson faced Corr in the semi-finals of the ]. Corr won the first {{cuegloss|frame}} with a {{cuegloss|fluke|fluked}} {{cuegloss|pot}} on the {{cuegloss|black ball}}. She then won the second frame on a {{cuegloss|re-spotted black}} and the fourth with a fluked {{cuegloss|blue ball}} on her way to a 5–0 victory.<ref name=AFR>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Allison Fisher Regains Forte Hotels Women's World Championship |magazine=Snooker Scene |pages=28–29 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=December 1991}}</ref> Later in 1991, Davidson made a break of 135 at the British Open, then the highest achieved on the women's tour.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Women's World Record |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=28 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=December 1991}}</ref>


In 1992, she joined the ] (WPBSA) when membership was opened to anyone who paid the relevant fee.<ref>{{cite news |last=Acteson |first=Steve |date=13 October 1990 |title=A Motley Cast of Hundreds Waiting for the Cue – Snooker |newspaper=The Times }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Yates |first=Phil |title=High Hopes of a Fresh ITV Deal – Snooker|work=The Times |location=London |date=22 February 1992 |page=31}}</ref> She competed on the professional circuit for the ].<ref name="CUESPORT">{{cite book |last1=Hayton |first1=Eric |last2=Dee |first2=John |date=2004 |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History |publisher=Rose Villa Publications |location=Lowestoft |isbn=978-0-9548549-0-4 |page=322}}</ref><ref name="WWSTD">{{Cite web |title=Tessa Davidson |url=https://www.womenssnooker.com/player/tessa-davidson/ |access-date=27 September 2024 |website=World Women's Snooker |language=en-GB |archive-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926200419/https://www.womenssnooker.com/player/tessa-davidson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She won her first professional match 5–1 against Russ Schister in the qualifying competition for the ], but a 5–4 defeat of Gary Skipworth in the ] qualifying was her only other win as a professional.<ref name="CUESPORT"/> She resigned her WPBSA membership at the end of the season, being one of 76 players to leave the Association around that time.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Resignations |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=19 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=July 1993}}</ref> On the women's circuit, she won the 1992 Women's UK Championship, on the final {{cuegloss|pink ball}} of the deciding frame against Hillyard.<ref name="92UK"/> In 1992, she joined the ] (WPBSA) when membership was opened to anyone who paid the relevant fee.<ref>{{cite news |last=Acteson |first=Steve |date=13 October 1990 |title=A Motley Cast of Hundreds Waiting for the Cue – Snooker |newspaper=The Times }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Yates |first=Phil |title=High Hopes of a Fresh ITV Deal – Snooker|work=The Times |location=London |date=22 February 1992 |page=31}}</ref> She competed on the professional circuit for the ].<ref name="CUESPORT">{{cite book |last1=Hayton |first1=Eric |last2=Dee |first2=John |date=2004 |title=The CueSport Book of Professional Snooker: The Complete Record & History |publisher=Rose Villa Publications |location=Lowestoft |isbn=978-0-9548549-0-4 |page=322}}</ref><ref name="WWSTD">{{Cite web |title=Tessa Davidson |url=https://www.womenssnooker.com/player/tessa-davidson/ |access-date=27 September 2024 |website=World Women's Snooker |language=en-GB |archive-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926200419/https://www.womenssnooker.com/player/tessa-davidson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She won her first professional match 5–1 against Russ Schister in the qualifying competition for the ], but a 5–4 defeat of Gary Skipworth in the ] qualifying was her only other win as a professional.<ref name="CUESPORT"/> She resigned her WPBSA membership at the end of the season, being one of 76 players to leave the Association around that time.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Resignations |magazine=Snooker Scene |page=19 |publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=July 1993}}</ref> On the women's circuit, she won the 1992 UK Women's Championship on the last {{cuegloss|pink ball}} of the deciding frame against Hillyard.<ref name="92UK"/>


After an absence from competitive snooker from 1995 to 1998, the unseeded Davidson defeated world number 5 ] and reigning world champion ] on her way to the final of the 1998 Connie Gough Tournament, where she defeated second-ranked ] 3–1.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Davidson Inflicts Rare Defeat on Corr |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=May 1998 |page=29}}</ref><ref name="RENAI"/> She also reached the final of the 1998 Regal Welsh Open.<ref name="RENAI">{{cite news |last=Potter |first=Sarah |title=Corr Delighted to Be Leading Renaissance – Snooker|work=The Times |location=London |date=5 February 1998 |page=45}}</ref> She went on to win the 1998 UK Women's Championship, prevailing 4–1 in the final against Kelly Fisher despite losing the first frame. In the semi-finals, Corr lost her match with Davidson by going in-off the final black in the deciding frame. At this time, outside snooker, Davidson was operating a mobile fish and chip shop with her husband.<ref name="Ind" /> After an absence from competitive snooker from 1995 to 1998, the unseeded Davidson defeated world number 5 ] and reigning world champion ] on her way to the final of the 1998 Connie Gough Tournament, where she defeated second-ranked ] 3–1.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Davidson Inflicts Rare Defeat on Corr |magazine=Snooker Scene |publisher=Everton's News Agency |date=May 1998 |page=29}}</ref><ref name="RENAI"/> She also reached the final of the 1998 Regal Welsh Open.<ref name="RENAI">{{cite news |last=Potter |first=Sarah |title=Corr Delighted to Be Leading Renaissance – Snooker|work=The Times |location=London |date=5 February 1998 |page=45}}</ref> She went on to win the 1998 UK Women's Championship, prevailing 4–1 in the final against Kelly Fisher despite losing the first frame. In the semi-finals, Corr lost her match with Davidson by going in-off the final black in the deciding frame. At this time, outside snooker, Davidson was operating a mobile fish and chip shop with her husband.<ref name="Ind" />
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She competed in the ] at the ], becoming the second woman, after ] in ], to take part in the main event of the ].<ref name="WST_first_day">{{cite web |title=Doherty Survives Opening Day Scare to Join Wattana, Watson and Figueiredo in Last 8 |url=https://seniorssnooker.com/doherty-survives-opening-day-scare-to-join-wattana-watson-and-figueiredo-in-last-8/ |work=] |date=9 May 2024 |access-date=9 May 2024 |archive-date=9 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509091617/https://seniorssnooker.com/doherty-survives-opening-day-scare-to-join-wattana-watson-and-figueiredo-in-last-8/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Her opponent, ], won the opening frame, but Davidson took the second, becoming the first woman to win a frame at that stage of the tournament.<ref name="WST_first_day" /> Figueiredo secured a 3{{nbnd}}1 victory and went on to win the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |title=Match Sheet: Last 16 – Igor Figueiredo Vs Tessa Davidson |url=https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/63fae318-7142-435c-98cf-45eca2dc38aa/sheet |work=] |date=8 May 2024 |access-date=9 May 2024 |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513065457/https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/63fae318-7142-435c-98cf-45eca2dc38aa/sheet |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WST_first_day" /> She won four of the eight events in the 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series. In the Grand Final for the top eight players in the series, she defeated ] world champion ] 3–0 during the group stage.<ref name="WGF">{{cite web |title=Tessa Davidson Wins Winchester Grand Finals |url=https://www.epsb.co.uk/tessa-davidson-wins-winchester-grand-finals/ |website=English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards |date=21 May 2024 |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525051844/https://www.epsb.co.uk/tessa-davidson-wins-winchester-grand-finals/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series – Grand Finals – Results |url=https://snookerscores.net/tournament-manager/202324-winchester-womens-open-series-grand-finals/results |website=WPBSA SnookerScores |access-date=27 September 2024 |archive-date=24 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524223959/https://snookerscores.net/tournament-manager/202324-winchester-womens-open-series-grand-finals/results |url-status=live }}</ref> She faced Mink again in the final. After Mink had levelled at 1–1, Davidson took the next two frames to secure the title.<ref name="WGF"/> She competed in the ] at the ], becoming the second woman, after ] in ], to take part in the main event of the ].<ref name="WST_first_day">{{cite web |title=Doherty Survives Opening Day Scare to Join Wattana, Watson and Figueiredo in Last 8 |url=https://seniorssnooker.com/doherty-survives-opening-day-scare-to-join-wattana-watson-and-figueiredo-in-last-8/ |work=] |date=9 May 2024 |access-date=9 May 2024 |archive-date=9 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509091617/https://seniorssnooker.com/doherty-survives-opening-day-scare-to-join-wattana-watson-and-figueiredo-in-last-8/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Her opponent, ], won the opening frame, but Davidson took the second, becoming the first woman to win a frame at that stage of the tournament.<ref name="WST_first_day" /> Figueiredo secured a 3{{nbnd}}1 victory and went on to win the tournament.<ref>{{cite web |title=Match Sheet: Last 16 – Igor Figueiredo Vs Tessa Davidson |url=https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/63fae318-7142-435c-98cf-45eca2dc38aa/sheet |work=] |date=8 May 2024 |access-date=9 May 2024 |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513065457/https://snookerscores.net/scoreboard/match/63fae318-7142-435c-98cf-45eca2dc38aa/sheet |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WST_first_day" /> She won four of the eight events in the 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series. In the Grand Final for the top eight players in the series, she defeated ] world champion ] 3–0 during the group stage.<ref name="WGF">{{cite web |title=Tessa Davidson Wins Winchester Grand Finals |url=https://www.epsb.co.uk/tessa-davidson-wins-winchester-grand-finals/ |website=English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards |date=21 May 2024 |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525051844/https://www.epsb.co.uk/tessa-davidson-wins-winchester-grand-finals/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series – Grand Finals – Results |url=https://snookerscores.net/tournament-manager/202324-winchester-womens-open-series-grand-finals/results |website=WPBSA SnookerScores |access-date=27 September 2024 |archive-date=24 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524223959/https://snookerscores.net/tournament-manager/202324-winchester-womens-open-series-grand-finals/results |url-status=live }}</ref> She faced Mink again in the final. After Mink had levelled at 1–1, Davidson took the next two frames to secure the title.<ref name="WGF"/>


As of 1989 she was married to Mark.<ref name="BH6"/>{{rp|139}} In about 2022, she was awarded a coaching scholarhip by the WPBSA.<ref>{{cite news|title=Banbury's Snooker Star Tessa Davidson Is Now the World's Number One|first=Zoe|last=Ashton|url=https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/sport/other-sport/banburys-snooker-star-tessa-davidson-is-now-the-worlds-number-one-3651028|date=12 April 2022|access-date=2 October 2024|archive-date=21 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521133647/https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/sport/other-sport/banburys-snooker-star-tessa-davidson-is-now-the-worlds-number-one-3651028|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, she was working as a self-employed gardener and coaching at Fast Eddie's Pool and Snooker Hall.<ref name="BG23">{{cite news |title=Snooker Champion Tessa Davidson Announced as Banbury Guardian's Sports Personality of the Year |first=Jack |last=Ingham |url=https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/sport/other-sport/snooker-champion-tessa-davidson-announced-as-banbury-guardians-sports-personality-of-the-year-4430053 |date=1 December 2023 |access-date=16 March 2024 |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316191440/https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/sport/other-sport/snooker-champion-tessa-davidson-announced-as-banbury-guardians-sports-personality-of-the-year-4430053 |url-status=live }}</ref> The '']'' named her as their Sports Personality of the Year for 2023.<ref name="BG23"/> Her highest ranking on the women's circuit, was fourth place<ref name="WWSTD" /> which she held at the end of the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons.<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Nichols |title=The Radio 5 Live Sports Yearbook 1995 |year=1994 |location=Brighton |publisher=Oddball Publishing |isbn= 978-0-9524044-0-8}}</ref> As of 1989 she was married to Mark.<ref name="BH6"/>{{rp|139}} In about 2022, she was awarded a coaching scholarhip by the WPBSA.<ref>{{cite news|title=Banbury's Snooker Star Tessa Davidson Is Now the World's Number One|first=Zoe|last=Ashton|url=https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/sport/other-sport/banburys-snooker-star-tessa-davidson-is-now-the-worlds-number-one-3651028|date=12 April 2022|access-date=2 October 2024|archive-date=21 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521133647/https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/sport/other-sport/banburys-snooker-star-tessa-davidson-is-now-the-worlds-number-one-3651028|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, she was working as a self-employed gardener and coaching at Fast Eddie's Pool and Snooker Hall.<ref name="BG23">{{cite news |title=Snooker Champion Tessa Davidson Announced as Banbury Guardian's Sports Personality of the Year |first=Jack |last=Ingham |url=https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/sport/other-sport/snooker-champion-tessa-davidson-announced-as-banbury-guardians-sports-personality-of-the-year-4430053 |date=1 December 2023 |access-date=16 March 2024 |archive-date=16 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316191440/https://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/sport/other-sport/snooker-champion-tessa-davidson-announced-as-banbury-guardians-sports-personality-of-the-year-4430053 |url-status=live }}</ref> The '']'' named her as their Sports Personality of the Year for 2023.<ref name="BG23"/> Her highest ranking on the women's circuit was fourth place<ref name="WWSTD" /> which she held at the end of the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons.<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Nichols |title=The Radio 5 Live Sports Yearbook 1995 |year=1994 |location=Brighton |publisher=Oddball Publishing |isbn= 978-0-9524044-0-8}}</ref>


==Titles and achievements== ==Titles and achievements==

Revision as of 09:25, 4 October 2024

English snooker player

Tessa Davidson
Born (1969-04-22) 22 April 1969 (age 55)
Sport country England
Professional1992–93
Highest rankingWorld Women's Snooker: 4

Tessa Davidson (born 22 April 1969) is an English snooker player from Banbury, Oxfordshire. She competed on the women's tour from 1988 to 1995 and again from 1998 to 1999, during which time she won three UK Women's Championships and achieved a highest ranking of fourth in the women's rankings. She competed on the main professional tour during the 1992–93 snooker season.

After 1999, she took a 23-year hiatus from competitive snooker to raise her two children. She returned to the sport in 2022 and currently competes on the women's tour and the women's seniors tour. Since her return, she has won a number of women's seniors titles, including the World Women's Seniors Championship in 2022 and 2024. As of September 2024, she was ranked ninth in the women's rankings, as well as first in the women's seniors rankings.

Biography

Born on 22 April 1969, Tessa Davidson is from from Banbury, Oxfordshire. Her father was a snooker coach and taught Davidson and her sister the game when they were aged about 13. In the late 1980s, he managed a snooker club in London and his daughters would stay with him and play there.

She started competing on the women's snooker circuit in 1988. She gained her first ranking points in April that year after defeating Mandy Fisher. In 1989, she won the UK Women's Championship with a 4–1 victory against Stacey Hillyard in the final. Snooker Scene magazine described her as a "surprise winner", and in the Benson and Hedges Snooker Year, Gaye Jones called the result the "undoubted sensation" of the women's snooker season. Davidson had defeated 1987 world champion Ann-Marie Farren both in the round-robin and quarter-final stages, and her break of 84, made during her 4–1 defeat of Kim Shaw in the semi-finals, was the highest of the tournament. After her UK Championship victory, she decided to focus on snooker, and she played full-time for most of her 20s. Her next significant success was winning the 1990 Western Ladies Championship, when she overcame reigning world champion Karen Corr 3–2 in the semi-finals and world number one Hillyard 3–0 in the final. In 1991, she won the Pontins Ladies' Bowl.

Davidson faced Corr in the semi-finals of the 1991 Women's World Snooker Championship. Corr won the first frame with a fluked pot on the black ball. She then won the second frame on a re-spotted black and the fourth with a fluked blue ball on her way to a 5–0 victory. Later in 1991, Davidson made a break of 135 at the British Open, then the highest achieved on the women's tour.

In 1992, she joined the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) when membership was opened to anyone who paid the relevant fee. She competed on the professional circuit for the 1992–93 season. She won her first professional match 5–1 against Russ Schister in the qualifying competition for the 1992 UK Championship, but a 5–4 defeat of Gary Skipworth in the 1993 British Open qualifying was her only other win as a professional. She resigned her WPBSA membership at the end of the season, being one of 76 players to leave the Association around that time. On the women's circuit, she won the 1992 UK Women's Championship on the last pink ball of the deciding frame against Hillyard.

After an absence from competitive snooker from 1995 to 1998, the unseeded Davidson defeated world number 5 Lisa Quick and reigning world champion Karen Corr on her way to the final of the 1998 Connie Gough Tournament, where she defeated second-ranked Karen Corr 3–1. She also reached the final of the 1998 Regal Welsh Open. She went on to win the 1998 UK Women's Championship, prevailing 4–1 in the final against Kelly Fisher despite losing the first frame. In the semi-finals, Corr lost her match with Davidson by going in-off the final black in the deciding frame. At this time, outside snooker, Davidson was operating a mobile fish and chip shop with her husband.

After taking a 23-year break from competitive snooker to raise her children, Davidson returned to the tournament circuit during the 2021–22 snooker season and became a successful competitor on the women's seniors tour (for players over 40). Her recent tournament wins have included the 2022 UK Women's Seniors Championship, the Eden Women's Seniors Masters in 2022 and 2023, the Belgian Women's Seniors Open in 2023 and 2024, and the World Women's Seniors Championship in 2022 and 2024.

She competed in the 2024 World Seniors Championship at the Crucible Theatre, becoming the second woman, after Maria Catalano in 2022, to take part in the main event of the World Seniors Championship. Her opponent, Igor Figueiredo, won the opening frame, but Davidson took the second, becoming the first woman to win a frame at that stage of the tournament. Figueiredo secured a 3‍–‍1 victory and went on to win the tournament. She won four of the eight events in the 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series. In the Grand Final for the top eight players in the series, she defeated 2022 world champion Mink Nutcharut 3–0 during the group stage. She faced Mink again in the final. After Mink had levelled at 1–1, Davidson took the next two frames to secure the title.

As of 1989 she was married to Mark. In about 2022, she was awarded a coaching scholarhip by the WPBSA. In 2023, she was working as a self-employed gardener and coaching at Fast Eddie's Pool and Snooker Hall. The Banbury Guardian named her as their Sports Personality of the Year for 2023. Her highest ranking on the women's circuit was fourth place which she held at the end of the 1992–93 and 1993–94 seasons.

Titles and achievements

Women's snooker finals contested by Tessa Davidson
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score Ref.
Winner 1 1989 UK Women's Championship  Stacey Hillyard (ENG) 4–1
Runner-up 1 1989 Pontins Ladies' Bowl  Ann-Marie Farren (ENG) 0–3
Runner-up 2 1989 Northern Ladies' Championship  Allison Fisher (ENG) 0–4
Winner 2 1990 Western Ladies' Championship  Stacey Hillyard (ENG) 3–0
Winner 3 1991 Pontins Ladies' Bowl  Ann-Marie Farren (ENG) 4–2
Winner 4 1992 UK Women's Championship  Stacey Hillyard (ENG) 4–3
Runner-up 3 1993 Saffron Classic  Karen Corr (NIR) 0–3
Runner-up 4 1993 UK Women's Championship  Stacey Hillyard (ENG) 3–4
Runner-up 5 1993 Connie Gough Memorial  Kelly Fisher (ENG) 1–3
Runner-up 6 1994 James Brooke Classic  Kelly Fisher (ENG) 2–3
Runner-up 7 1998 Regal Welsh  Karen Corr (NIR) 0–4
Winner 5 1998 Connie Gough Memorial  Kelly Fisher (ENG) 3–1
Runner-up 8 1998 Ladies Regal Scottish Masters  Kelly Fisher (ENG) 3–4
Winner 6 1998 UK Women's Championship  Kelly Fisher (ENG) 4–1
Runner-up 9 1999 Regal Welsh Open  Lisa Quick (ENG) 1–4
Runner-up 10 1999 Connie Gough Memorial  Kelly Fisher (ENG) 1–3
Runner-up 11 1999 British Women's Open  Lynette Horsburgh (SCO) 3–4
Winner 7 2022 British Women's Open (Seniors)  Izabela Łącka (POL) 2–0
Winner 8 2022 World Women's Seniors Championship  Ewelina Pislewska (POL) 3–0
Winner 9 2022 Winchester Women's Open (Seniors)  Mary Talbot (ENG) 2–0
Winner 10 2022 UK Women's Snooker Championship (Seniors)  Sarah Dunn (ENG) 2–0
Runner-up 12 2022 Scottish Women's Open (Seniors)  Diana Schuler (GER) 1–2
Winner 11 2022 Eden Women's Masters (Seniors)  Mary Talbot (ENG) 2–1
Winner 12 2023 Belgian Women's Open (Seniors)  Mary Talbot (ENG) 2–0
Runner-up 13 2023 British Women's Open (Seniors)  Mary Talbot (ENG) 1–2
Runner-up 14 2023 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series – Event Two  Mink Nutcharut (THA) 2–3
Runner-up 15 2023 UK Women's Snooker Championship (Seniors)  Mary Talbot (ENG) 0–2
Runner-up 16 2023 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series – Event Three  Emma Parker (ENG) 2–3
Winner 13 2023 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series – Event Four  Sarah Dunn (ENG) 3–1
Winner 14 2023 Eden Women's Masters (Seniors)  Sarah Dunn (ENG) 2–0
Winner 15 2023 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series – Event Five  Daisy May Oliver (ENG) 2–1
Winner 16 2024 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series – Event Six  Emma Parker (ENG) 2–1
Winner 17 2024 Belgian Women's Open (Seniors)  Mary Talbot (ENG) 3–0
Winner 18 2024 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series – Event Seven  Jasmin Bolsover (ENG) 2–1
Winner 19 2024 World Women's Snooker Championship (Seniors)  Han Fang (CHN) 3–1
Winner 20 2024 2023/24 Winchester Women's Open Series – Grand Finals  Mink Nutcharut (THA) 3–1
Runner-up 17 2024 English Women's Snooker Championship  Rebecca Kenna (ENG) 2–3
Winner 21 2024 British Women's Open (Seniors)  Sarah Dunn (ENG) 2–0
Winner 22 2024 US Women's Snooker Open (Seniors)  Maryann McConnell (CAN) 2–0
Winner 23 2024 UK Women's Snooker Championship (Seniors)  Sarah Dunn (ENG) 2–0

Team Events

  • 1992 Home International Series winner, with Kim Shaw. (The tournament was played as a round-robin against teams from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland and Isle of Man)

References

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