Snooker stars and former couple Mark Allen and Reanne Evans have faced off for the first time at the British Open.

Allen eventually overcame his ex-partner 3-2 but the degree of animosity between the pair was clear before the opening break, with Evans refusing to bump fists with the father of her child.

The former romantic partners are reported to have split acrimoniously 13 years ago with a dispute over child maintenance said to have left relations between the pair strained.

Evans, a 12-time women’s world champion, shares a daughter, 14, with Allen – who is ranked 12th in the world.

She has earned a two-year tour card this season to turn professional and is already the most successful female snooker player of all time.

It comes just months after Evans – then working for the BBC at the World Snooker Championship – was told to leave the studio after Northern Irishman Allen complained her presence was a distraction.

He was reported to have said he did not want her to be in the TV studio where a practice table was, so she left the room for 10 minutes.

The British Open – which concludes on Sunday – is Evans’ second tournament on the professional tour, after competing in the Championship League.

The 35-year-old, from Dudley, West Midlands, was recognised in the Queen’s honours list last year and made an MBE for her services to women’s snooker.

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