THERE was no love lost between new world champion Debbie Burchell and her partner Rachel Tucker, even if she had to beat her other half on Valentine’s Day to become the IPA (International Professional Pool Players Association) World Blackball Ladies champion.

Trowbridge pool players Burchell, 40, and Tucker, 43, were both in action at the Magna Centre in Rotherham and as the IPA held a women’s competition as part of their world championships for the first time, the draw threw up a semi-final showdown between the two.

Burchell emerged victorious and went on to vanquish former Scotland captain Shona Lucas to leave herself on top of the world.

“I beat Rachel 5-0 and I’m not sure it went down too well at first but obviously she was happy to see me get to the final,” said Burchell, who, like Tucker, works for Wiltshire Council.

“She’s a Welsh international and I’ve played for England, so we’ve played each other in an Anglo-Welsh tournament before but it was a bit strange to end up playing each other on Valentine’s Day. But we had to do it and the final went really well after that.

“I was up against Shona Lucas, who’s been the captain of Scotland and a world champion before, so it was a really tough match but I managed to get the better of her and win it.

“I’m ecstatic about it. I just keep looking at the trophies on my mantelpiece because I can’t believe it and it feels weird when people say ‘well done’ to me.”

The Trowbridge couple both previously played out of the Black Pearl pub and were both affiliated to the Somerset county association but Tucker is planning to run to become chairperson of the Wiltshire County Blackball Pool Federation.