Snooker star is married to World Championship ref who savaged him after defeat

 Ben Woollaston is competing at the Crucible for the first time in over a decade.

Ben Woollaston is married to top snooker referee Tatiana

Snooker ace Ben Woollaston shared the harsh but humorous words his referee wife Tatiana sent him after he was knocked out of the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong last month. The Leicester-born cueist suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Shaun Murphy in the last 32, after Murphy's impressive 110 break in the final frame.

Woollaston's participation in the tournament was nothing short of miraculous. He received a last-minute invitation due to Stephen Maguire withdrawing because of a back injury.

Facing a tight schedule, Woollaston got the call at 7.15am on Monday and had to scramble to make his match in less than a day.

He managed to snag a seat on the only flight that could get him to the Kai Tak Arena in time, dashing from Leicester to London's Heathrow Airport, where he arrived just three minutes before the gate closed.

The journey left him with no chance to rest, resulting in "stinging" eyes, and he was even ready to play with a borrowed cue if necessary. Woollaston touched down in Hong Kong at 11am, giving him just three hours before facing the 2025 Masters champion.

After a gallant performance against Murphy, Woollaston had to fly straight back to take care of his children, whom he'd left with his mother. His wife Tatiana, who was officiating at the World Grand Prix and also this week at the World Championship, didn't mince her words in her message to him following his exit from the competition.

Tatiana Woollaston during a match

Recounting his whirlwind trip to Hong Kong on the Talking Snooker podcast, Ben said: "I was in Hong Kong for 22 hours and I flew for 26 hours! When I lost, Tatiana said: 'You better get back to the kids.'

"She was there an extra two days so I thought maybe I could stay, but it wasn't fair on my mum because I just left her within 15 minutes, just said 'I'm off!' So I thought I better get back."

Tatiana playfully responded to her husband's comments on social media, posting: "I am really kind, am I not?!" Her message was accompanied by a laughing face emoji.

Ben is competing in his first World Championship since 2013 and begins his campaign against fellow Leicester potter Mark Selby.

Although Tatiana is married to a professional snooker player, she does not referee any matches that her husband is involved in.