Jamie Hunter has won her first World Women's Snooker (WWS) Tour ranking event after sensationally defeating English compatriot Rebecca Kenna 4-1 in the final of the 2022 U.S. Women's Snooker Open at Ox Billiards in Seattle.

The victory crowns a memorable debut year on the WWS Tour for the 25-year-old, who becomes the first player to lift a maiden ranking title since Thailand's Mink Nutcharut at the 2019 Australian Women's Snooker Open.

Having entered the week ranked in 12th position, Hunter is now set to climb to a career-high position of number six in the latest world ranking list next week.

For Kenna, defeat represents her fifth reverse in a ranking event final, as her wait for an elusive breakthrough title goes on. She will remain fourth in the world rankings, having consolidated her position following her latest final run.

The pair began the day in the quarterfinals, having each progressed through the initial group stage without the loss of a frame.

The route to the final for Hunter saw her defeat Frances Tso of the United States 3-0, before overcoming Mary Talbot-Deegan — who was competing in her first semi-final on the Tour — 4-1 to reach the title match.

Kenna also enjoyed smooth progress, with victories against the Mary Avina from Texas and world number five, England's Emma Parker, without the loss of a frame.

It was Hunter who would enjoy the stronger start to the decisive match as she claimed the opening two frames, Kenna having spurned a chance to steal the opening frame with a missed blue when in to clear.

The top seed would get off the mark in frame three to ignite hopes of a comeback, but it was to be Hunter who would clinch a close fourth frame, before adding the next to get over the line and seal a landmark victory on the Tour.

The Challenge Cup competition, for players who did not qualify for the knockout stages, was won by Kaarin Lysen of the United States, who defeated Kathleen Stanley 2-0 in the final.

The final brought the curtain down on a historic and hugely successful week for women's snooker with the first staging of a tour ranking event in the United States. With a range of players from Europe, the United States, Canada and China among the field, the tournament was warmly received by all who took part, with players already excited to return in 2023.

The 2022-23 WWS Tour will resume from October 1-4, with the third staging of the Australian Women's Snooker Open in Sydney.

The United States Snooker Association (USSA) would like to congratulate World Women's Snooker and Ox Billiards for staging a memorable and magnificent event of which we hope will progress and grow in the years ahead. Our appreciation also goes to the sponsors Microsoft, Littman Lights and Strachan billiard cloth, and also to referee Dave Daly and live stream commentator David Burney.

The final frame scores as follows:

Final (Best-of-7 frames)
Match ID
F	Rebecca Kenna (England) 1	1 - 4	Jamie Hunter (England)
Frame scores and 30+ breaks in brackets (Kenna's score stated first): 1st. 35-63   2nd. 31-66(31)   3rd. 52-16   4th. 35-73   5th. 36-59

(SnookerUSA.com would like to acknowledge World Women's Snooker for the additional reporting).