Maria's right on cue
A dark, smoky working men's club is the last place you would expect to see pretty Maria Catalano. A dark, smoky working men's club is the last place you would expect to see pretty Maria Catalano. "I have been playing snooker in working men's clubs since I was 15," says Maria, who is ranked second in the world in women's snooker. "Everyone at the Sedgley and the Woodcross clubs has been wonderful and they treat me with the utmost respect. "As a girl you can feel out of it surrounded by men, but they have all looked after me." Read the full story in the Express & Star.
"I have been playing snooker in working men's clubs since I was 15," says Maria, who is ranked second in the world in women's snooker.
"Everyone at the Sedgley and the Woodcross clubs has been wonderful and they treat me with the utmost respect.
"As a girl you can feel out of it surrounded by men, but they have all looked after me.
"I'm 25 now and when I first walked into one of the clubs 10 years ago I had a few strange looks.
"Some of them didn't want to play snooker with me because I was a girl. But then it started to change and now they don't want to play against me because I am too good."
Receiving training from her cousin, snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan, has certainly helped Maria.
"I used to visit Ronnie a lot when I was younger and he taught me everything," she says.
"Ronnie is nicknamed The Rocket because he is so quick. I have the same style and can clear a table in less than eight minutes – although he can do it in around five minutes.
