Miss Mozart retains her composure

The 30-year-old half-Sicilian beauty - dubbed ‘Miss Mozart of Ladies Snooker’ by former England international Marianne Williams after matching her highest break of 116 in the opening frame of her 4-2 semi-final victory over Tatjana Vasiljeva (Latvia) - lost her third world final on Tuesday.

Normally accustomed to a swift exit from venues after a defeat, Catalano remained to voice her thoughts on her 5-3 loss to Reanne Evans at Cambridge Snooker Centre.

Catalano, who had ended Evans’ record 90-match winning streak back in September and beaten her again in the Connie Gough Memorial to finish the season as world number one, said: “I’m a bit gutted because I don’t feel there was much in it.

“Deep down, I feel I was probably the better player. It was just down to a few crucial balls. I didn’t play fantastic in the final but I felt good.

“I know I’m more than capable of winning the tournament. I’ll be back next year. I’ll keep trying. I’ll be here until the day I die. I’ll never give up.”

It was first blood to Catalano as she took a tense opening frame on the blue. But the Dudley pair went into the mid-session interval all square at 2-2.

After the break, Evans put together a run of 50 and then won an epic safety battle to lead 4-2.

Still determined to fulfill her dream of a first world title, Catalano pulled one back with a 48 clearance to win on the black.

However, one scrappy frame later, Evans was crowned world champion for the eighth successive year.

Evans said: “(Maria) probably played the best overall. She played well all week. She’s had a great season but it just wasn’t meant to be.”

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