Two males face off in women’s pool championship

A pool tournament in the United Kingdom ended with two transgender competitors – Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith – facing each other for the title.

Both males beat four female opponents each to reach the championship of the Ultimate Pool Women’s Pro Series.

Haynes ultimately defeated Smith to win about $2,300 (£1,800) in prize money.

Protesters held signs at the event saying, “Save women’s sport” and “He’s a man,” GBNews.com reported. 

The affair drew strong criticism from conservatives and others on X. 

Former NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines called it “a real life South Park episode.” 

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-South Carolina, posted, “Are we living in an alternate reality?” 

And political commentator Megyn Kelly sarcastically wrote, “Cool. Congrats Guys.” 

The news stunned Washington Free Beacon contributor Noah Pollak, who posted, “My God. They did it, they actually did it. And it’s perfect.” 

Meanwhile, British talk show host Piers Morgan, who is not known for being conservative, found the incident less humorous. 

“Preposterous. Why anyone supports this cheating bullsh*t is utterly beyond me,” he wrote. 

It wasn’t the first time the two competitors had faced each other. They also had a match during the semifinal round of the U.K. Mini Series last October; Haynes also won that match. 

The World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF) lets transgender athletes compete against women if they have identified as a woman for at least four years and suppress their testosterone levels. 

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure the continued growth and development of the sport we all love, while maintaining a harmonious balance between inclusivity and the integrity of competition,” the WEPF said while announcing its policy in 2023. “We recognize the importance of fostering an environment where everyone can participate and thrive, and we remain dedicated to upholding these principles to the best of our ability.” 

Not all pool organizations take the same approach. 

The English Blackball Pool Federation (EBPF) approved a policy in 2023 barring biological men from competing in its women’s division, leading Haynes to sue. 

The athlete claims a “loss of opportunity” and “injured feelings” from the policy, according to a report. This could be the first of its kind lawsuit brought by a transgender athlete in the U.K., and could impact other sports leagues, the Telegraph reports.  

While rare, it was not the first time males took the top two spots in a women’s sport. Two Connecticut runners finished atop the 55-meter dash in that state’s high school championship in 2019.   

Such incidents should become more rare in the U.S. after President Donald Trump’s executive order banning it, leading many sports bodies to follow suit. 

In addition, the Trump administration announced the creation of a federal task force late last week to prevent males from competing in women’s sports. 

The new Title IX Special Investigations Team (SIT) – a combined effort from the Department of Education and the Department of Justice  – plans to investigate schools that let males compete in women’s sports and use women’s only spaces, such as bathrooms or locker rooms. 

“Today’s establishment of the Title IX SIT will benefit women and girls across this nation who have been subjected to discrimination and indignity in their educational activities,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement.