Desislava Bozhilova is a Bulgarian international snooker referee whose rise through the World Snooker Tour has reshaped perceptions of officiating at the sport’s highest level. In 2025, she reached a historic milestone by refereeing the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre, becoming the first woman to officiate the finals of all three Triple Crown events.
Her achievement was not the result of novelty or symbolism, but of sustained performance, technical precision, and trust earned over more than a decade on the professional circuit. This article presents a factual profile of Desislava Bozhilova, covering her background, education, refereeing career, and influence within snooker, while clearly distinguishing between verified public information and areas she keeps private.
Quick Bio: Desislava Bozhilova
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Desislava Vasileva Bozhilova |
| Date of Birth | 16 October 1992 |
| Age | 32 (as of 2025) |
| Nationality | Bulgarian |
| Birthplace | Sliven, Bulgaria |
| Profession | International Snooker Referee |
| Professional Since | 2012 |
| Sport Country | Bulgaria |
| Highest Achievement | Refereed 2025 World Snooker Championship final |
| Notable Distinction | First woman to referee all three Triple Crown finals |
| Residence | Sofia, Bulgaria |
Who Is Desislava Bozhilova?
Desislava Bozhilova is an elite-level snooker referee on the World Snooker Tour, trusted to officiate matches at the highest level of professional competition. Her assignments have included ranking event finals, Triple Crown events, and the sport’s most prestigious fixture the World Snooker Championship final. Her reputation is built on consistency, calm authority, and technical accuracy under pressure.
International Recognition on the World Snooker Tour
Bozhilova’s standing within snooker is evidenced by repeated selection for high-stakes matches involving the world’s top players. Tournament organisers and players alike regard her as a reliable official capable of managing tense situations with composure. Over time, this reliability translated into increasingly significant appointments, culminating in her selection for the 2025 Crucible final.
Early Life and Education
Bozhilova’s path into professional snooker did not begin in a traditional snooker environment, reflecting the sport’s limited presence in her hometown.
Growing Up in Sliven, Bulgaria
Born and raised in Sliven, a city with little access to snooker facilities, Bozhilova was first exposed to cue sports through pool. As a teenager, she developed an interest in snooker by watching televised matches, which sparked a longer-term ambition to become involved in the sport beyond recreational play.
Education and Landscape Architecture Degree
In 2012, Bozhilova moved to Sofia, where she pursued higher education alongside her early refereeing career. She later earned a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Forestry in Sofia, graduating in 2016. Alongside refereeing, she has worked on architectural and 3D visualisation projects, demonstrating a parallel professional skillset outside sport.
How Desislava Bozhilova Became a Snooker Referee
Rather than attempting a professional playing career, Bozhilova chose officiating as her route into snooker.
Joining the Bulgarian Snooker Referees Association
In 2011, she discovered the Bulgarian Snooker Referees Association, an organisation that supports training and certification for officials. Recognising refereeing as a structured and merit-based pathway, she applied and began formal preparation.
Qualifying as an International Referee in 2012
Bozhilova passed the international refereeing examination in 2012, formally entering the professional officiating pathway. This certification marked the decisive moment when the snooker referee became international referee in December qualification was completed under recognised governing standards. Shortly after qualifying, she officiated her first professional tournament at the Bulgarian Open, establishing her presence on the international snooker circuit and initiating a merit-based progression within the World Snooker Tour structure.
Professional Refereeing Career
From her debut, Bozhilova’s progression was steady rather than accelerated by hype.
First Professional Matches and Early Tournaments
Following her 2012 debut, she officiated matches across lower-tier and ranking tournaments, gaining experience and visibility within the World Snooker Tour structure.
Ranking Event Finals and Career Milestones
Her first ranking final came at the 2016 Riga Masters. This appointment signalled her arrival among the tour’s most trusted officials and led to further finals at events such as the German Masters, English Open, and Players Championship.
Triple Crown Events and Major Finals
Bozhilova’s career trajectory reached a defining phase when she began receiving appointments at snooker’s most prestigious tournaments, collectively known as the Triple Crown events.
Masters and UK Championship Finals
In 2022, Desislava Bozhilova refereed her first Triple Crown final at the Masters, marking a significant vote of confidence from World Snooker Tour officials. Later the same year, she officiated the UK Championship final, becoming the first woman to referee the finals of both events. These appointments reflected not symbolic progress, but trust built on years of consistent, high-level officiating.
World Snooker Championship Appearances
Bozhilova made her debut at the main stages of the World Snooker Championship in 2019 and returned in subsequent years. Each appearance increased her visibility and experience at the Crucible Theatre, preparing her for the most demanding assignment in professional snooker.
The 2025 World Snooker Championship Final
The pinnacle of Bozhilova’s career arrived in May 2025, when she was appointed referee for the World Championship final.
Making History at the Crucible Theatre
By officiating the final at the Crucible, Bozhilova became only the second woman, after Michaela Tabb, to referee a World Snooker Championship final. The match represented the highest level of professional pressure, scrutiny, and global attention conditions she handled with calm authority.
Becoming the First Woman to Referee All Three Triple Crown Finals
With the 2025 final, Bozhilova completed an unprecedented achievement: refereeing the finals of the Masters, UK Championship, and World Championship. This milestone placed her permanently in snooker history and established a new benchmark for officiating excellence, regardless of gender.
Officiating Style and Professional Reputation
Bozhilova’s rise has been driven as much by style as by achievement.
Handling Pressure at Elite-Level Matches
Her officiating is characterised by precision, clarity, and composure. She is known for managing tense situations decisively, applying rules consistently, and maintaining authority without theatrics. These qualities are particularly vital in finals, where marginal decisions can influence outcomes.
Notable Matches and Memorable Moments
Among her most memorable assignments is the 2019 Champion of Champions final, widely cited as an example of her calm under intense pressure. She has also been involved in lighter moments such as calmly resolving unexpected interruptions during play demonstrating control without disrupting match flow.
Life Outside Snooker
While refereeing is her primary professional focus, Bozhilova maintains interests beyond the snooker table.
Design, Architecture, and Creative Interests
Alongside officiating, she has applied her Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture to design work and 3D visualisations of homes. Her creative interests also include computer graphics and baking, activities she has occasionally referenced in interviews.
Residence and Work Balance
Bozhilova is based in Sofia, Bulgaria, travelling extensively for tournaments across Europe and beyond. Balancing a demanding international schedule with professional and personal interests reflects her disciplined approach to career management.
Desislava Bozhilova’s Personal Life
Bozhilova keeps her private life deliberately separate from her professional identity.
What Is Publicly Known
There is no verified public information regarding her marital status or partner. Reputable sources focus exclusively on her professional achievements, and she has not made personal disclosures beyond general lifestyle interests.
Why She Keeps Her Private Life Out of the Spotlight
Her approach mirrors that of many elite sports officials, where neutrality and professionalism are paramount. By maintaining privacy, Bozhilova ensures that attention remains on officiating standards rather than personal speculation.
Impact on Women in Snooker
Bozhilova’s influence extends beyond her own career milestones.
Breaking Barriers in Professional Officiating
Her appointments at Triple Crown finals have reshaped perceptions of women snooker referees, demonstrating that advancement at elite level is determined by accuracy, composure, and decision-making rather than gender.
By consistently delivering error-free officiating in high-pressure matches, Bozhilova has reinforced a performance-led pathway within professional snooker, where credibility is earned through standards and trust rather than representation alone.
Influence on Future Referees
Bozhilova has spoken about hoping her achievements encourage more women to pursue refereeing and playing roles within snooker. Her visibility at the sport’s highest stages has already begun to shift perceptions, particularly in countries where snooker is still developing.
Conclusion: Desislava Bozhilova’s Place in Snooker History
Desislava Bozhilova’s career represents a model of sustained excellence rather than sudden breakthrough. From her beginnings in Sliven to officiating the World Snooker Championship final, her progress has been built on qualification, consistency, and trust. By becoming the first woman to referee all three Triple Crown finals, she secured a permanent place in snooker history. More importantly, she has done so by redefining expectations of what elite officiating looks like calm, precise, and unequivocally merit-based.
FAQs About Desislava Bozhilova
Who is Desislava Bozhilova?
She is a Bulgarian international snooker referee on the World Snooker Tour.
How old is Desislava Bozhilova?
She was born on 16 October 1992 and is 32 years old as of 2025.
Has Desislava Bozhilova refereed a World Championship final?
Yes. She officiated the World Snooker Championship final in 2025.
What makes Desislava Bozhilova’s career historic?
She is the first woman to referee the finals of all three Triple Crown events.
Where is Desislava Bozhilova from?
She was born in Sliven, Bulgaria, and now lives in Sofia.
Is Desislava Bozhilova married?
Her marital status has not been publicly disclosed.
