Defending champion Reanne Evans is among the players into the last 16 of the World Women's Snooker Championship ©Getty Images

Defending champion Reanne Evans of England is among the players into the last 16 of the World Women’s Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

Following the conclusion of the group stage today at the Ding Junhui Snooker Academy, the top eight group winners earned places in the last 16 stage.

Evans topped Group A after 3-0 wins today over compatriot Mary Talbot-Deegan and Scotland’s Sophie Nix.

Group B winner Ng On Yee of Hong Kong, a three-time winner of the Championship, topped her group after 3-0 wins today over England’s Louise Cothier and Jan Hughes.

Belgium’s Wendy Jans won Group L after winning all her matches, triumphing 3-0 today against England’s Lesley Roberts and 3-1 over England’s Marianne Williams.

Ploychompoo Laokiatphong of Thailand reached the last 16 after topping Group J, winning 3-0 today against Izabela Lacka of Poland and by the same scoreline against England’s Jenny Poulter.

England’s Suzie Terry won Group H winning all four of her matches, with victories today against compatriots Zoe Killington and Nat Howard 3-0.

Rebecca Kenna of England topped Group D to reach the last 16, with wins today 3-0 over compatriot Laura Gillett and by the same scoreline against Guernesey’s Kate Le Gallez.

Dalia Alska of Poland topped Group K, winning all her group matches, including a 3-0 victory over Mariia Shevchenko of Russia today.

The final last 16 berth went to England’s Maria Catalano, who topped Group E after 3-0 wins over India’s Pooja Galundia and England’s Aimee Benn.

Those already in the last 16 will await the winners of the last 32 ties, contested between the remaining four group winners and the player that finished second in each group.

Among the players in the last 32 include the runner-up to Evans at the previous edition of the tournament in 2019, Nutcharut Wongharuthai of Thailand, who faces England’s Lesley Roberts.

Matches in the last 32, last 16 and quarter-final stage of the tournament are all scheduled to be contested tomorrow over the best of seven frames.

The tournament is due to be concluded on Monday (February 14) with the winner set to earn a place on the professional World Snooker Tour.

Both Evans and On Yee, who remain in this year’s competition after the group stage, already compete on the Tour so if either of them wins the title, that place will go to the next highest ranked player in the competition.