The 1981 Women's World Open was a women's snooker tournament that took place in May 1981 at Thorness Bay, organised by the

Women's Billiards Association The Women's Billiards Association (WBA), founded in 1931 and based in London, United Kingdom, was the governing body for women's English billiards and snooker, and organised the Women's Professional Billiards Championship and Women's Profes ...

and sponsored by Guinness. It is recognised as the 1981 edition of the

World Women's Snooker Championship The World Women's Snooker Championship (formerly known as the Women's World Open Championship from 1976 to 1981 and the World Ladies Snooker Championship from 1983 to 2018) is the leading tournament on the World Women's Snooker Tour. The reigning ...

first held in

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 ...

Vera Selby Vera Selby MBE (born 13 March 1930) is an English former snooker and English billiards player. She won the Women's World Open Championship twice, in both 1976 and 1981. She was also the Women's Billiards champion from 1970 to 1978. Career S ...

defeated

Mandy Fisher Mandy Fisher (born in April 1962) is an English former professional snooker player and a World Women's Snooker Championship winner in 1984. Fisher founded the World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association (now known as World Women's Snooker) ...

3–0 in the final to win the title, receiving £2,000 prize money as champion. Defending champion Lesley McIlrath was beaten 2–3 in the quarter-finals by

Sue Foster Sue Foster is an English former snooker player. She won the Women's World Snooker Championship in 1983.World Cham ...

. Selby, the 1976 champion did not lose a during the tournament. In reaching the final she beat Mandy Walton 2–0, then recorded 3–0 wins over Grace Cayley,

Maryann McConnell Maryann McConnell is a Canadian snooker and pool player. She was runner-up in the 1984 Professional World Women's Snooker Championship, and has won numerous pool tournaments in Canada. Biography McConnell started playing at the age of 24, at t ...

and Foster. Fisher had wins over Ann Johnson and Fran Lovis on her route to the final and received £1,000 as runner-up.

Clive Everton Clive Harold Everton (born 7 September 1937) is a sports commentator, journalist, author and former professional snooker and English billiards player. He founded '' Snooker Scene'' magazine, which was first published (as ''World Snooker'') i ...

wrote of the tournament "Mrs Selby's cool temperament, sure grasp of tactics and safety play overcame technically more gifted players."

Main Draw

References

{{World Women's Snooker Championship 1981 in English sport 1981 in snooker 1981 in women's sport May 1981 sports events in the United Kingdom International sports competitions hosted by England World Women's Snooker Championship