The Norfolk pool player has been involved in a 15-month battle with the sport's authorities to prevent transwomen from being allowed to compete in women's competitions.

She argues that biological men have physical advantages that make it unfair when they compete in the female category.

But her plunge into this highly-contested topic has not been easy.

She faced threats and abuse from online critics and what she has described as more than a year of "blood, sweat and tears".

However, it has now ended in triumph after the Ultimate Pool Group (UPG), the professional body for 8-ball pool, announced it had amended its rules so that only biological women are able to compete in the female category.

FINAL CONCESSION

Pinches, one of Britain's top female pool players, was catapulted into the headlines in November 2023 when she conceded the final of the Women's Champion of Champions tournament - where she had been due to play transgender opponent Harriet Haynes - without playing a single shot.

Lynn Pinches (left) forfeited the Women's Champion of Champions pool final to Harriet Haynes (Image: EPA)

She shook hands with Haynes before packing away her cue and walking out of the hall to applause from the crowd at Prestatyn, in Wales.

The gesture came a month after tournament organisers UPG had changed its rules to allow transwomen to compete in the female category.

"I didn't know what to do," said........

© Eastern Daily Press