Ng On Yee Wins Belgian Women’s Open, Ends Bai Yulu’s Dominance

The Hong Kong cueist defeated Mink Nutcharut 4-2 in the final at the Trickshot Snooker Club in Bruges to regain the crown she won in 2020.

Players representing nine different nations took part in the three-day competition that was celebrating its sixth edition. The world’s top six players from the circuit all featured.

Ng – who also plys her trade on the professional tour – qualified for the knockout rounds after winning her group with a 100% record and not dropping a single frame.

In the last 16, Ng defeated rising young star and world number six Narucha Phoemphul (Thailand) 3-1 before seeing off Rebecca Kenna (England) 3-0 in the quarter-finals – making a break of 56 in the final frame.

Another chapter in the rivalry of Ng and 12-time world women’s champion Reanne Evans was written in the last four, as the Asian ace wrapped up a 4-2 success with a run of 81.

Emerging from the other side of the draw was 26-year-old Mink who was trying to end a near 13-month wait for a title on the women’s scene.

As one of the highest ranked seeds, the Thai went straight through to the knockouts where she eliminated Panchaya Channoi (Thailand) 3-0 and then crafted breaks of 59 and 97 during a 3-0 win over Anna Prisjažņuka (Latvia) in the last eight.

The semi-finals brought together the top two ranked players in the women’s rankings as Mink faced the player who usurped her at the top of the standings only a few weeks ago, Bai Yulu.

Newly-minted world number one and reigning back-to-back world women’s champion Bai travelled to Belgian on an incredible winning streak having secured gold at each of the last five events she had played in on the circuit.

However, Bai’s 41-match winning streak was ended by Mink in a dramatic semi-final.

Efforts of 63 and 45 put Mink in the driving seat at 3-0 up before Bai rallied, getting on the scoreboard with the aid of a 65 in frame four and then depositing the next two to force a decider.

Former world women’s champion Nutcharut, though, regrouped for the final frame, and with a break of 54, she recorded a 4-3 win and resigned Bai to her first defeat on the women’s scene since last March.

Both Ng and Nutcharut were aiming to end unwanted runs having lost in finals on the Tour; Ng had been denied on her last three title decider appearances, and it was four for Nutcharut. There was an extra incentive for the latter, as the Bruges title would push her back to world number one.

And it was Nutcharut who got off to a brilliant start as an effort of 95 secured her the opening frame. Ng levelled after a 47 in the next, but the Thai (40 break) nudged back in front at 2-1.

Three-time world women’s champion Ng was not to be denied the title, though, as she restored parity again before going in front following runs of 38 and 42, and then triumphing with frame six.

Ng, Nutcharut, Bai and Evans are all back on professional duty next week at the World Open qualifiers in Barnsley.

Next up on the women’s circuit is the 2026 Landywood British Open towards the end of March.