Snooker Queen Reanne Evans Battles Tremor and Toxic Trolls to Make Stunning Comeback
Reanne Evans, a 12-time women’s world snooker champion, has made an impressive start to the new season, surpassing her total wins from the previous campaign, which only began in June. This performance is especially significant given that Evans had considered retiring at the end of last season due to a combination of health problems and the toxic environment of social media abuse she faces regularly.
Evans attributes her recent success to adopting a more relaxed mindset at the table, inspired by snooker legend Mark Williams. “If you miss, you miss, carry on,” she explains. “It’s harder than it sounds, but I’m trying to approach it with a carefree attitude.” Another factor in her upturn in form is the improvement in her essential tremor, a condition that causes involuntary shaking and has made the demanding game of snooker even more difficult for her. She’s had this condition for years, and while there’s no cure, Evans says it fluctuates, often getting worse during times of stress or anxiety. Despite the challenge, she’s learning to accept it and not let it hinder her.
However, it’s not just physical struggles that Evans faces. The abuse she receives on social media has been a constant source of distress, intensifying even when she wins. “It’s the usual stuff, but I get even more abuse when I win,” she shares. “I could post a picture of a tree, and I’d still get abuse.” For Evans, social media has been a double-edged sword, with the online vitriol adding pressure on top of her physical challenges.
Despite everything, her resilience has shone through, and with this new mindset, Evans is determined to keep pushing forward in the season, confident that a lighter approach may be the key to her ongoing success.
