Two men meet in women's billiards final after dominating female tournament: 'I'm just a woman who is trying to live my life'

A women's pool tournament ended with two men facing off in the final due to a bizarre rule set focused on "inclusion."

The Ultimate Pool Women's Pro Series Event 2 at Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan, England, featured Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith, both males, beating four women each to reach the finals of the 32-player tournament.

Haynes was the eventual winner after he held off Smith's late comeback, according to Fox News. The outlet reported that Smith has won 85 of 113 matches dating back to 2021, while Haynes has a lifetime .750 winning percentage.

The two male players have played each other in a women's tournament previously at the U.K. Mini Series pool championships in October; Haynes won that matchup, as well.

Haynes gave an interview to U.K. outlet the Independent in December and stated he does not consider himself "a trailblazer" but rather said he is a woman in all other aspects of life and is only questioned in billiards.

"I'm just a woman who is trying to live my life, and all I want to do is just be treated the same as any other woman."

The pool player said he works in an office environment, where he is "treated like a woman every single day in the rest of my life. This is the only aspect of my life where I'm not."

Transgender rules in pool

The English Pool Association lists a series of rules for transgender participants that get more obscure as they go on.

In order for a male to play in the female category, the athlete must first have "declared that her gender identity is female."

The declaration can only be changed every four years.

Testosterone levels have limits and, according to the rules, are monitored with testing. In the event of noncompliance, the athlete would be suspended for 12 months.

The rules then deeply explore one's "affirmed gender" and essentially reinforce the same guidelines while recognizing players can simply make no attempt to change anything about themselves while still competing as their preferred gender.

"It is generally assumed that a trans pool player will seek to play pool in their affirmed gender whether that is at domestic level or in the performance pathway," the rules explained. "It is possible that a trans player may seek the opposite to this (i.e. live in one gender and play in the opposite gender)."

"A trans player living in his or her affirmed gender may choose to play in his or her birth gender," but simply put, once a player declares a pathway for competition, they must stick to that gender category for domestic tournaments through national.

Ultimate Pool Group's transgender policy becomes even more bizarre when it comes to its justification.

After noting its rules are approved by the World Eight Ball Pool Federation, UPG said it promotes "a positive and inclusive environment" for all. Strangely, UPG declared under the same rules that one of its "core missions" is to "raise the profile and overall standard of the women's game."

Its rules then immediately state that UPG will not discriminate against anyone's "gender and gender identity" and will support players who are simply in the "process of reassigning their sex," even if that means only in a social manner, such as a simple name change or change of dress.

The next UPG event, allegedly for women, takes place May 23-25.

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