UK pool organization scraps trans-athlete policy following court decision, championship controversy

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Earlier this month, a women's pool tournament championship in the United Kingdom featured two transgender athletes who defeated their female competition.

Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith went toe-to-toe in the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan. Both competitors defeated four female opponents each to get to the championship bout.

But weeks after the event, the organization has barred biological males from competing against women.

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A general view of the World Three-cushion Championship at Turkish Billiards Federation Facilities in Ankara, Turkiye on September 06, 2023. (Osmancan Gurdogan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Ultimate Pool's policies now state, "With effect from 23rd April 2025 trans women will not be eligible to participate in the women’s series nor will trans women be eligible to be selected for international events in the female category." 

The organization said that it commissioned an "experts report" to determine if pool is a "gender affected sport" in which biological males could have competitive advantages.

"The clear conclusion of the biological and cue sports expert who jointly authored the report was that eightball pool was a gender affected sport and that in cue sports female players have unique disadvantages compared to male players and that transgender women retain male advantages," Ultimate Pool said.

According to Ultimate Pool Group, Smith won 85 of 113 matches and 62% of 848 frames dating back to 2021 before entering the final. Haynes owned a .750 winning percentage in 241 lifetime matches and won 61% of the frames