World Snooker Championship referee has separate job working for an airline

 Malgorzata Kanieska has become a regular on the World Snooker Tour, and was handed her debut at the Crucible this year, but also has a day job in her native Poland

Malgorzata Kanieska has two jobs, one of which is the high-profile role of being a snooker referee

World Snooker Championship referee Malgorzata Kanieska has opened up on her double life as an airport worker alongside her role as an official. Rising through the ranks since 2010, Kanieska has established herself as a prominent figure in officiating European Tour events and now has major match experience.

The year 2023 marked a milestone for Kanieska as she oversaw the Tour Championship final between Shaun Murphy and Kyren Wilson. Additionally, she made her debut at the Crucible this year, managing two last-32 matches, including Murphy's encounter with Daniel Wells and Chris Wakelin's victory over Neil Robertson.

Despite her rising status within snooker, Kanieska has shared insights into how she juggles this with her day job back in Poland.

In conversation with Framed: The Snooker Podcast, Kanieska discussed the evolution of her career. "When I did my first professional event I was studying," she said. "Now I'm just working full-time and I take days off to go to tournaments, that's the biggest change."

Furthermore, she elaborated on her responsibilities at the airport, revealing the dynamic nature of her work. "I work for polish airlines, I optimise [systems] for the upcoming days," she said.

"There is a manager on duty but when you think about all the aircrafts coming in, [if] something happens you need to know how to make the network look the best, how to avoid delays, how to avoid over-bookings and how to find the best options for the flights to perform."

Malgorzata Kanieska juggled her snooker responsibilities with her day job 

While she has power in the Crucible, it appears she wields just as much in her day job. "I can cancel flights," she said. "When there is industrial action, or airports can be closed, all aircrafts can be damaged, I have the power to cancel flights - luckily I do not contact passengers so that makes it easier."

But her passion for snooker means she doesn't get much downtime, reports the Express. "I use all my days off for the tournament. As much as I like snooker, it's not a holiday," she also confessed.

However she isn't the only referee to divide her time between the table and a more typically conventional role. Tatiana Woollaston, partner of snooker player Ben Woollaston, is firmly established as one of the top officials in the game, having first refereed at the Crucible in 2020.

Referee, Tatiana Woollaston also divides her time between two jobs

First taking the role of referee at the Crucible back in 2020, she has quickly become one of the faces of snooker officiating.

Only last year at the World Championship, she presided over the semi-final showdown between Wilson and David Gilbert. This season, she held the reins at the prestigious UK Championship final featuring Judd Trump and Barry Hawkins.

Surprisingly, after these high-profile gigs, she returned straight to her day job as a merchandiser for Next. "That's a surprise for people, that I've got a full-time job," she said.

"Refereeing is my hobby. It's [Next] a great company to work for and they're very supportive of my refereeing career.