REBECCA Kenna says she was awestruck by some of snooker's legends as she made her own first appearance at the Crucible.

The Keighley potter kicked off her new season by realising her dream of playing at the sport's spiritual home in Sheffield.

She was one of four females to play in the inaugural Women's Tour Championship, which saw the top four of the women's game clash as women's snooker returned to the venue for the first time in 16 years.

At the tournament, held on Saturday played as two-frame matches, saw Kenna lose 2-0 to Hong Kong star Ng On Yee in their semi-final. After On Yee took a scrappy opener, the match was highlighted by a stunning clearance of 47 by the three-time former world champion to seal victory.

Meanwhile eventual winner, world number one Reanne Evans, gained a dramatic black-ball victory over Nutcharut Wongharuthai in their semi and it was a single frame shoot-out final victory for Evans.

It was held as part of this year’s ROKiT World Seniors Snooker Championship, which saw 20 of the world’s best over-40 players compete in Sheffield.

Jimmy White won his first World title at the Crucible, beating Darren Morgan 5-3 in the seniors final. This comes after White was runner-up at the Crucible in six World Championship finals during his earlier career, including five in a row between 1990 and 1994.

Kenna added she loved the experience of playing at the home of snooker, despite being awestruck by some of the sport's legends who were playing at a senior event on the same day.

She said: "It was amazing. I hope we can be there next year. It would have been good to have had more time to play more frames.

"I had 15 friends and family there. They were vocal. We had a close first frame that went down to the black, but I lost the second frame. It is hard to showcase what I can do in two frames. I hope to get back there next year.

"I was definitely starstruck when Stephen Hendry walked in the players' lounge. He was a hero of mine growing up in the 1990s. I went a little bit shy. I did chat to Jimmy White and Cliff Thorburn."

Kenna will get her chance to kick off the season in ranking events at the UK Women's Snooker Championship held at the Northern Snooker Centre, Leeds, on September 14 and 15.