Singapore’s Venus Lim claims 10-ball title at Commonwealth Billiards C’ships

SINGAPORE – Down 2-5 in a race to seven racks within 100 minutes, Singapore’s Venus Lim found herself with a mountain to climb in the Commonwealth Billiards Championships women’s 10-ball pool final against India’s two-time world snooker champion Chitra Magimairaj.

But the 22-year-old pulled off a remarkable comeback in Mauritius on July 6 to tie the score at 5-5, before prevailing 4-2 in a shoot-out to score the biggest triumph of her career.

She told The Straits Times: “I took a timeout at 2-5 down and told myself to cool down, take my chances for each ball and rack, and enjoy the process. I controlled my breathing and tried to concentrate on the game and not on the rack difference.

“But as much as I wanted to fight back, I also thought the three-rack deficit was too much to overcome. Furthermore, she has just the nine and 10-ball to clear in the eighth rack to move within a rack of victory.

“I thought she would pot them, but she left the nine-ball hanging around the pocket. I took my chances well and fought back into the match to take it to the shoot-out.”

After dabbling in bowling and badminton, Lim found a new interest on the baize after being introduced to pool by her older brother when she was 17.

Upon graduating with a diploma in applied chemistry from Republic Polytechnic, she began playing pool full time in March.

She said: “At first, I was just curious about how this sport works and was not really passionate about pool. But over time, I realised I have some talent and it brings me so much joy when I take my cue out and play.

“To win this final feels unreal, and I feel so happy with my first overseas win and I hope there is more to come.”

Compatriot Audrey Chua also recorded her best result in her budding career, as the 37-year-old reached the snooker final at the same event at the Ravenala Attitude in Balaclava, before losing 2-0 to England’s world No. 5 Rebecca Kenna.

The Catholic High School (Primary) teacher played pool when she was an undergraduate, but started snooker only in 2025.

She said: “I’m still taking it all in, and it feels quite surreal. I honestly didn’t expect to reach my first final, especially since I started playing snooker only five months ago.

“It’s definitely a milestone I’ll treasure. Although I lost 2-0, the experience was invaluable. Competing with someone of Rebecca’s calibre was both humbling and deeply inspiring.

“Snooker is quite different as it required me to relearn many things, like adjusting my stance, changing my stroke and getting used to the larger table. Balancing training with a full-time teaching job is also challenging, but it’s been incredibly rewarding.”

Lim and Chua’s breakthrough is a welcome boost for the Singapore women’s cue sports scene, as they aim to represent the Republic at more international tournaments.

Cuesports Singapore president Christopher Chuah said: “While our male athletes like Aloysius Yapp (pool), Peter Gilchrist (English billiards) and Jaden Ong (snooker) are continuing to fly our flag high in the international arena, our ladies have proven that they are also up to the mark.

“Audrey Chua reached the final and lost out only to a former professional snooker player, while Venus went one step further to clinch gold for Singapore in a nail-biting finish against a top Indian pool player.

“Their performance augurs well for Singapore and will undoubtedly spur our other female athletes to attain greater heights in the international arena.”