World Snooker Championship icon retires from Crucible refereeing and makes classy statement

 Michaela Tabb has retired as a snooker referee after taking charge of her last match at the Crucible Theatre, having made history at the venue as the first female to referee a World Championship final

Michaela Tabb has opened up about her decision to retire from traditional snooker

Trailblazing referee Michaela Tabb has brought the curtain down on her traditional snooker career after officiating her last match at the iconic Crucible Theatre. The 57-year-old bid farewell after refereeing the opening five frames of the World Seniors Snooker Tour final between Alfie Burden and Aaron Canavan on Sunday.

Tabb, who made history by being the first female referee at a world ranking tournament, went on to become the first woman to officiate the World Championship final at the Crucible in 2009. She passed the baton to fellow female referee Proletina Velichkova after the initial five frames of the WSST final.

Although Tabb will continue to referee the Snooker Legends 900, she expressed her excitement about retiring from traditional snooker.

Ahead of her last final in Sheffield, she said: "I'm excited to hang up my gloves if I'm being honest, for traditional snooker. I think I've done my time.

"I’m getting to an age where it would be nice to watch other people doing that, especially after seeing another female coming up now and refereeing the final at the main World Championships.

“It’s been like 15 years that we’ve been waiting for that to sort of happen. So I’m happy now to let the young guns do it.

“I will still work with Snooker Legends and I’ll still do the 900 but for traditional snooker, my day will be finished. I feel emotional even just talking about it to be honest.

"Honestly, it could make me cry, and I was so lucky to have two finals and so many other matches as well.”

Tabb was fast-tracked by the snooker authorities, making her debut on the ranking circuit in 2002. The Somerset-born Scot went on to officiate the 2009 and 2012 Crucible finals. She left the World Snooker Tour (WST) in March 2015 following 14 years of service.

Tabb paved the way for a number of female referees in the game today

Her exceptional refereeing skills and lasting presence in the game paved the way for other female referees to follow her example.

That was clear to see as Desislava Bozhilova, 32, took charge of the gripping recent World Snooker Championship final between Zhao Xintong and Mark Williams

During Tabb's last competitive frame, legendary snooker commentator Dennis Taylor praised her influence within the sport, saying: "She's been a wonderful referee and she's encouraged so many ladies to come forward. There's now up to 10 from around the world and it's all down to Michaela."

Fellow female referee Tatiana Woollaston, who oversaw the 2024 UK Championship final, also expressed her gratitude on social media following the news of Tabb's retirement.

She posted on X: "For all women, which now have an opportunity to get involved in the sport they love, there had to be THE FIRST and that was Michaela Tabb. Inspiration, history maker and an amazing person! Thank you and enjoy the retirement!"