A women's pool tournament has sparked controversy after two transgender athletes competed against each other in the final.
Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith faced off in the Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 in Wigan after both defeated four female-born competitors in earlier rounds.
The event has drawn significant criticism from public figures and protesters alike, reigniting debate about transgender participation in women's sports.
Haynes emerged victorious in the final with a score of 8-6, having led 6-3 at one point before Smith narrowed the gap.
Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith met in the final of the pool tournament
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Haynes' path to the title included wins over Megan Proctor and Mary Talbot.
Smith reached the final by defeating Jane Mitchell 7-3 in the first round and Vicki Lomax 7-1, before later knocking out Kirsty-Lee Davies and Danielle Randle.
The match took place at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan on Friday.
The sporting event was met with protests, with demonstrators holding banners reading "Save women's sport" and "He's a man".
Broadcaster Piers Morgan condemned the tournament as "preposterous" and "cheating bulls***" on social media.
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies also weighed in, calling the situation "bloody ridiculous and grossly wrong in every way".
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The presence of transgender athletes in women's competitions continues to be a divisive issue in British sport.
According to Ultimate Pool Group, Smith had won 85 of 113 matches and 62% of 848 frames since 2021 before entering the final.
Haynes boasted a .750 winning percentage in 241 lifetime matches and had won 61% of frames before facing Smith.
The two had previously met in the semifinals of the U.K. Mini Series pool championships in October, where Haynes emerged victorious.
Haynes subsequently lost the championship of that tournament to a biological woman.
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Protests took place before the final in Wigan
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This is not the first controversy involving Haynes in women's pool competitions.
In the 2023 Women's Champion of Champions final in Prestatyn, Haynes was awarded victory after her opponent, Lynne Pinches, refused to play.
Pinches later told TalkTV: "Whenever you play a transgender player, even if you win, it doesn't make any difference because in your heart, you know it's unfair."
She added: "This is a category advantage, being biologically male and playing against females."
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Piers Morgan was among those to call out the incident
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The English Pool Association and World Eightball Pool Federation currently permit transgender athletes to compete without restriction.
However, the EPA's bylaws regarding transgender athletes have been under review since December 2023.
Haynes has previously defended her right to compete, telling the BBC: "Transwomen are not a threat to pool. We're not coming over in droves… there's nothing to fear."
The WEPF briefly announced in August 2023 that it would only allow those "born female" to compete.
