A pool player missed the final of a tournament after choosing to leave the showpiece before a ball was hit rather than face her transgender opponent on Sunday, with the crowd cheering her decision.
The final of the Women’s Champions of Champions tournament in Denbighshire, Wales, took place on Sunday but saw a perhaps unexpected end as Lynne Pinches handed the score over before the first break.
Pinches was due to face Harriet Haynes in the exhibition game at the weekend, with her opponent having a slight height and reach advantage at the start of the clash and each player paying an entry fee of £70.
Video of the shocking moment shows Pinches making his way to the table, where both players were taking lag shots to determine who would actually break in the first frame before Haynes sat down.
However, instead of preparing for the first frame of the tie, Pinches then turned to the referee to seemingly inform her of her decision to forfeit the game and say goodbye to the chance of winning the tournament.
Lynne Pinches (left) refused to compete against Harriet Haynes on Sunday, leaving her opponent stunned
Haynes was given the title of Women’s Champions of Champions by default following Pinches’ withdrawal
A female pool player reportedly refused to play against a trans-identified male opponent at the Women’s Champions of Champions final in Denbighshire, Wales, yesterday.
Lynne Pinches left the table after facing Chris “Harriet” Haynes. pic.twitter.com/vLofQALosk
— REDUXX (@ReduxxMag) November 13, 2023
Pinches then walked back to her seating area and packed up her cue before leaving the North Wales arena.
The decision to do so – rather than simply not showing up – could perhaps have been made with the intention of making clear the reasons for her non-attendance at the game, rather than her message being misconstrued as a no-show at the event.
Barry, Pinches’ brother, took to social media to praise his sister for taking a stand and expressed his opinion that it was “unfair” that she would compete against a transgender player.
“Full credit and respect goes to my sister Lynne Pinches yesterday for taking a stand and not taking part in the biggest game of her billiards life because she believes it is so unfair to have to compete against a trans woman.”
“I completely agree with her view that it is completely unfair to expect women to compete against trans women in the pool or any other sport.”
Barry then made a “prediction” that in years to come the sport would look back and conclude that it was “deeply unfair to women who have trained hard and compete in their chosen sport.”
Barry added: “Just to be clear, this post is about fairness in women’s sport, that’s all. “I have no problem at all with anyone wanting to identify as who they want to be and I have nothing against Harriet Haynes.’
Pinches had beaten the England captain 5-4 in the semi-final, in a game her son Tommy described as “her last”.
Despite her retirement, Lynne Pinches stayed on site to pose with her runner-up trophy
Tommy revealed the decision to forfeit the game had brought his mother to tears, but was full of praise for her decision to forego “the title trophy and prize money”.
“My mother had tears in her eyes a few weeks ago because in this current situation Ultimate Pool backed out of what they had promised at the end of the year.
“A few weeks later she gets to the final of Champions of Champions, refuses to play and quits the game because she doesn’t believe it’s right!”
“I know how much it would have meant for them to reach that final and just give up and forgo the title trophy prize money!”
“I stood up for what you believe in and your semi-final was your final in my honest opinion, so well done on a fantastic weekend.”
Despite the surprise ending to an event fans had paid to attend, fans appeared to support the decision.
Shouts of “Yes, Lynne” could be heard from supporters gathered at Pontins Resort in Prestatyn.
Haynes was visibly stunned by the move and appeared surprised by the call as the crowd applauded and cheered Pinches’ loss of the title.
Double H – Haynes’ nickname on the circuit – has already had an impressive 2023, claiming the title of 2023 Ladies Masters Champion.
Pinches’ controversial decision received support from X account FairPlayForWomen, which wrote: “A principled and crowd-pleasing decision.”
“Lynne Pinches refuses to compete in this women’s pool tournament because her opponent is a trans-identifying man.” In sports, fairness matters. Well done, Lynne.’
Haynes was also crowned the 2023 Women’s Masters Champion in an impressive 2023
Others on social media were critical of the decision. One claimed it was “cheating” to allow Haynes to compete against Pinches, writing: “Harriet Haynes is a man.” Why do you allow men to win female awards?
“This will destroy women’s sports. Men competing against women is cheating in my opinion and in most people’s opinion. “You’re all cowards.”
And a second critic wrote: “The top women don’t come close to the top men, whether it’s hand-eye coordination or whatever, I don’t know.”
“What I do know is that Harriet Haynes was an average County B player before the move.”
