Shaun Murphy leads Vera Selby tributes after death of first women's world champion – 'A pioneer of women's snooker'

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. Ad 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.

World Championship'He will win tournaments' – Moody handed world title shot after O'Sullivan praiseYESTERDAY AT 10:15 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. “The calmer you keep, the more you can concentrate on the game," she said in an interview with The Northern Echo. «You just have to go in feeling you’re going to win.” Eurosport analyst Reanne Evans, the 12-time women's world champion, expressed her sadness at the news.

“I’ve just been told that Vera Selby passed away last night age 93, so sad,» said Evans. «I had the pleasure meeting Vera in Sheffield, doing a few interviews together. God bless, Vera.” World Snooker Tour and the World Professional