Vera Selby MBE, the first women’s world champion, has died at the age of 93. Selby twice claimed the sport’s top prize in 1976 and 1981 and was an eight-time
women’s world billiards champion in the 1970s. She was also a respected coach, referee and commentator and earned an MBE for her services to the sport in 2016. Eurosport analyst Reanne Evans expressed her sadness at the news.
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Shaun Murphy, the 2005 world champion, has led the tributes to Vera Selby after the death of the first women’s world snooker champion on Monday, the day of her 93rd birthday.
Born in the Yorkshire town of Richmond in 1930, Selby lifted her maiden world title in 1976 with a 4-0 victory against Muriel Hazeldine in Middlesbrough before emulating the feat five years later, courtesy of a 3-0 win against Mandy Fisher on the Isle of Wight.
She continued to play, coach, referee and commentate on the sport – including being part of the BBC team during Alex Higgins’ famous run to the 1982 Crucible crown in Sheffield – after lifting the women’s world billiard
championship eight times between 1970-1978
Vera, who lived in Newcastle and served as chairman of the North East Billiards and Snooker Association, was awarded an MBE for services to snooker in 2016.
“I didn’t get to meet Vera Selby, but she was one of the pioneers of women’s snooker,” said Murphy on Twitter.
“And an early trail blazer for girls and women who followed. May she rest in peace.”
Selby felt her biggest attribute was keeping cool under pressure.
