Both players have been offered two-year tour cases as part of an agreement with the World Snooker Tour.

The WPBSA claim the announcement forms part of a wider commitment which reinforces the role of the World Women’s Snooker Tour as a major development tour within our sport’s elite pathway.

The WPBSA revealed it has also been confirmed that places at professional tournaments such as the Betfred World Championship and Champion of Champions will continue to be offered each season.

"For many years we have championed the role of women in our sport, from offering opportunities for our women to compete at major professional events, to our development of the WPBSA’s World Women’s Snooker Tour," said Jason Ferguson, the WPBSA chairman.

"We firmly believe that there is no reason why a woman cannot compete equally with a man and today’s announcement underlines our commitment to women’s snooker both now and in the future.

"Through seeing our leading female players compete on television on a regular basis, we are confident that more women and girls from across the club will be inspired to pick up a cue and look to emulate their achievements in the future."

England’s Evans and Ng On Yee of Hong Kong have been viewed as flagbearers for women’s snooker having between them dominated the sport’s major competitions.

Evans is a record 12-time winner of the World Women’s Snooker Championship.

She was last year awarded an Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to our sport and previously spent one season on the professional tour during the 2010 to 2011 season.

Ng is a three-time winner of the World Championship since 2015 and a former world number one.

She has also won the Best of the Best award at the Samsung Sports Awards in Hong Kong on two occasions.

"I am thrilled that from next season two of our leading women’s snooker stars will be able to take their place on the professional circuit," said Mandy Fisher, the World Women’s Snooker President.

"World Women’s Snooker celebrates its 40th anniversary later this year and I can honestly say that today’s announcement marks one of the most significant days in our history so far.

"With the support of Jason Ferguson and the WPBSA, we have taken significant strides in recent seasons and for our tour and most importantly our players to be recognised in this way represents a huge moment for women in snooker."

The World Women’s Snooker Tour became a subsidiary development tour of the WPBSA in December 2015.

The tour has reportedly seen significant growth since, with player participation having more than doubled during that time with over 150 ranked players from 29 countries currently represented.