CUE THE TEARS
‘It could make me cry’ – History-making female referee retires from traditional snooker in emotional statement
The 57-year-old made her debut in 2002
SNOOKER referee Michaela Tabb has announced she is stepping away from the sport.
The trailblazing ref, 57, made history as the first female to referee a World Championship final in 2009.
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Tabb was on the baize for the World Seniors Snooker Tour final between Alfie Burden and Aaron Canavan on Sunday.
She announced she would be retiring from refereeing following the contest.
The Scot 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.
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“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."
Tabb, 57, made history as the first female referee at a world ranking tournament.
She made her debut back in 2002 after being fast-tracked by impressed snooker bosses.
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Tabb would go on to officiate the 2009 and 2012 Crucible finals.
She left the World Snooker Tour in March 2015 after reaching a settlement with the WST.
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Tabb added: "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 has been followed into snooker by Desislava Bozhilova, 32, who refereed the world final between Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong earlier this month.
The Bulgarian is also a landscape architect as well as a master cake baker.
Ahead of the final in Sheffield, Bozhilova said: "I don’t know about other sports, but in snooker we are equal.
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“It does not matter if you are a female or male ref.
"If you are good enough and you do your job properly, you get your opportunities."
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