Tatiana Woollaston Snooker Referee: Nationality, Husband, Children, Salary & Finals

Tatiana Woollaston snooker referee is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and respected officials on the modern professional circuit. Known for her calm authority, technical precision, and consistency under pressure, she has officiated at the sport’s most prestigious tournaments, including Triple Crown events and the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre.

Since beginning her refereeing journey in Eastern Europe, Woollaston has progressed steadily through amateur and professional ranks to become a regular presence on the World Snooker Tour. Her career reflects not only personal achievement but also the growing internationalisation and professionalisation of snooker officiating.

Combining academic discipline with on-table experience, she has earned the trust of players, administrators, and audiences alike, establishing a reputation for fairness and control in the game’s highest-stakes matches.

Quick Bio: Tatiana Woollaston

Early Life and Background in Belarus

Tatiana Woollaston was born in 1986 in Pinsk, a historic city in southern Belarus that was part of the Soviet Union at the time. Growing up in a region where snooker had little mainstream visibility, her early exposure to the sport came primarily through televised broadcasts rather than local competition. Watching professional matches sparked a fascination with the game’s structure, etiquette, and rule-based precision, elements that would later define her officiating style.

Her Tatiana Woollaston nationality and upbringing in Eastern Europe played a formative role in her career trajectory. With limited local infrastructure for snooker, progression required adaptability and self-motivation, qualities that became evident as she pursued officiating opportunities beyond national borders. This background helped shape her resilience and professionalism when transitioning into international tournaments.

Education and Academic Background

Woollaston moved to Minsk to pursue higher education at the Belarusian State Economic University, one of the country’s leading institutions for economics and finance. She completed her studies in finance, banking, and credit, later earning a master’s degree in economics. Following graduation, she worked as a university lecturer, teaching economics-related subjects.

Her academic training contributed directly to her refereeing career. The analytical skills required in economics—attention to detail, numerical accuracy, and structured decision-making—translate closely to professional snooker officiating, where precise judgement and rule application are essential. This combination of education and sport would become a defining feature of her professional profile.

Refereeing Career Beginnings in Belarus

Tatiana Woollaston began her officiating career in 2008 while still living in Belarus, entering the sport at a time when organised snooker activity in the country was limited. Her earliest assignments involved amateur-level matches under the Belarusian Snooker Federation, where she developed core refereeing competencies such as frame control, foul adjudication, and score management. These grassroots experiences provided a practical foundation and allowed her to gain confidence in live match environments.

In 2009, she achieved a significant early milestone by qualifying as a Class 3 snooker referee during European championship events held in St Petersburg. This qualification enabled her to officiate beyond domestic competitions and marked her formal entry into the European refereeing structure. Her steady progression during this period reflected both technical competence and a strong commitment to professional development within a niche sporting ecosystem.

Transition to International and Professional Snooker

By 2010, Woollaston had moved into international amateur tournaments governed by the European Billiards & Snooker Association. That same year, she officiated at the European Individual Snooker Championship in Bucharest, further broadening her exposure to high-level competitive play and diverse player styles.

Her professional breakthrough came in August 2010 when she made her ranking event debut at the Paul Hunter Classic in Fürth, Germany, part of the European Players Tour Championship series. Later that year, she became the first referee from Eastern Europe to oversee a world-ranking semi-final, officiating a match involving John Higgins at the Euro Players Tour Championship in Prague. This appointment was widely viewed as a landmark moment, signalling her arrival on the professional refereeing circuit.

World Snooker Tour Career and Major Milestones

Following her relocation to the United Kingdom in 2011, Woollaston qualified as a Class 2 referee and integrated fully into the World Snooker Tour officiating roster under the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. Her first televised ranking event match came at the Welsh Open in 2015, representing a crucial step in establishing her visibility and credibility among elite professionals.

Over the following years, she became a regular official at ranking events and invitational tournaments, steadily building a portfolio of high-pressure assignments. Her first appearance at the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre came in 2020, a career-defining moment that placed her among the sport’s most trusted referees. She has since officiated multiple Crucible matches, reinforcing her status at the top level of the game.

Notable Matches and High-Profile Officiating Assignments

Woollaston’s career includes officiating several major finals and headline matches. She refereed the 2022 Welsh Open final between Joe Perry and Judd Trump, followed by the 2023 British Open final contested by Mark Williams and Mark Selby. In 2024, she officiated her first Triple Crown final at the UK Championship, further cementing her professional standing.

She has also overseen matches featuring maximum 147 breaks and high-tension deciders, situations that demand exceptional concentration and rule mastery. Tournament organisers consistently assign her to such fixtures, reflecting confidence in her ability to manage elite players and critical moments with authority and composure.

Professional Reputation and Officiating Style

Tatiana Woollaston is recognised on the professional circuit for her composed demeanour, clarity of communication, and firm application of the rules. Her refereeing style is characterised by minimal intervention, decisive calls, and an ability to maintain authority without disrupting the rhythm of play. These attributes are particularly valued in high-stakes matches where player emotions and pressure levels are elevated.

Her performances at major tournaments have drawn praise from players and commentators alike. Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has publicly described her as one of the finest officials in the sport, a reflection of the respect she commands among elite professionals. Tournament directors frequently allocate her to later-round and final-stage matches, underscoring her reputation for reliability and impartial control.

Personal Life, Marriage, and Family

Woollaston’s personal life is closely connected to the professional snooker world. Her Tatiana Woollaston husband is Ben Woollaston, whom she met while officiating on the European circuit. The couple married in 2011, and professional protocols prevent her from refereeing any of his matches to ensure competitive integrity.

They have two sons, making Tatiana Woollaston children an important consideration in how she balances tournament travel with family responsibilities. The family is based near Leicester, where both parents coordinate schedules around the snooker calendar. This balance has allowed Woollaston to maintain a consistent presence on the tour while sustaining a stable family life.

Life in the United Kingdom and Career Outside Snooker

After relocating to England in 2011, Woollaston established a dual-career structure combining professional officiating with corporate employment. Her Tatiana Woollaston other job is a full-time role as a merchandiser at the head office of Next, where she applies her economics background in a commercial environment.

This parallel career provides long-term stability in a sport where refereeing assignments are event-based rather than salaried. Regarding earnings, Tatiana Woollaston salary is not publicly disclosed and varies by season, reflecting the tournament-by-tournament payment structure used in professional snooker officiating. As a result, assessments of Tatiana Woollaston net worth are necessarily modest and conservative, typically linked to combined income from refereeing, corporate employment, and longevity rather than sponsorship or prize-related revenue.

Role in Women’s Representation and Diversity in Snooker

Woollaston’s visibility at the highest levels of the sport places her among the most prominent female snooker referees of the modern era. While snooker officiating has historically been male-dominated, her sustained presence at ranking events and Triple Crown tournaments demonstrates a gradual shift towards greater gender representation within professional governance roles.

Her career progression has helped normalise female authority on the main tour, particularly in pressure-filled televised matches and finals. Without positioning herself as an activist figure, Woollaston’s consistency and professionalism have contributed organically to broader acceptance and inclusion within the sport’s officiating ranks.

Conclusion:

Tatiana Woollaston’s journey from amateur refereeing in Belarus to officiating the sport’s most prestigious finals reflects a career built on discipline, adaptability, and technical excellence. Through sustained performance on the World Snooker Tour, she has earned the trust of players and officials while quietly reshaping perceptions of who can operate at the top level of snooker governance. Her dual-career model, international background, and presence at landmark events ensure her influence on the professional game extends well beyond the table.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When did Tatiana Woollaston begin refereeing snooker?
She began officiating amateur snooker matches in Belarus in 2008.

Has Tatiana Woollaston refereed at the World Snooker Championship?
Yes, she first refereed at the Crucible Theatre in 2020 and has returned in subsequent years.

What qualifications does Tatiana Woollaston hold?
She holds a master’s degree in economics and is a certified referee with multiple international snooker governing bodies.

Can Tatiana Woollaston referee matches involving her spouse?
No, professional regulations prevent her from officiating any match involving Ben Woollaston.

Is Tatiana Woollaston a full-time referee?
She combines professional refereeing with a full-time corporate role in the UK.

More at Biz Tech Magazine