The Dudley-based potter beat world champion and world number one Reanne Evans 3-2 in the final.

Evans is going through a lean spell by her own remarkable standards. She recently lost 3-2 to Emma Bonney in the semi-finals of the South Coast Classic.

And she suffered another deciding frame defeat in the final at Rileys SC in Luton.

Catalano achieved her fifth World Ladies Billiards & Snooker Association ranking title the hard way. The 26-year-old trailed 2-0 as mum-of-one Evans knocked in a useful 51 break. But Ronnie O’Sullivan’s determined cousin levelled with 47 and left Evans needing snookers with one red left in the decider.

"I won it quite comfortably in the end," said Catalano, a 3-2 semi-final winner over June Banks. Reanne is a great player and to do it against the world champion, you can’t wish for anything better. Against players like Reanne you just have to dig deep and give it your best.

"I love winning this tournament, especially as it’s a memorial tournament for Julie Hemmingway’s mum. It’s a little bit more special than all the others, apart from the World Championship."

Bonney's bid for back to back titles ended in the quarter-finals against Banks. But her recent success and Catalano's latest victory should make for a fascinating World Championship.

Due to a clash of dates, the tournament at Cambridge snooker centre has been moved to May 3.

"I don’t know whether I can enter it," explained Catalano. "I have to start work usually in April seeing as I work for my dad and it’s an ice-cream business. He always gives me until April off."

Evans won the high break break with 74, her prize presented by Julie Hemingway, daughter of Connie Gough.
She remains top of the rankings with Catalano up to fourth. 

RESULTS
Last 16:
Maria Catalano bt Marianne Williams 3-2, Jenny Poulter bt Tina Owen-Sevilton 3-2, June Banks bt Charlotte Holloway 3-0, Katie Henrick bt Vicky Ashby 3-0, Chris Sharpe bt Maureen Logan 3-0, Hannah Jones bt Eva Palmius 3-2, Reanne Evans bt Martina Lumsden 3-1, Emma Bonney w/o Suzie Opacic.
Quarter-finals: Catalano (31, 32, 36) bt Poulter 3-1, Banks bt Bonney 3-2, Henrick bt Sharpe 3-2, Evans (74) bt H Jones 3-0.
Semi-finals: Catalano bt Banks 3-2, Evans bt Henrick 3-0
Final (£240/£120): Catalano bt Evans 3-2