Michaela Tabb
Michaela Tabb (born 11 December 1967 in Bath, England) is the world's leading female snooker and pool referee, and made her World Snooker Championship debut by refereeing a match between Mark King and Drew Henry at the 2003 Crucible event. Tabb was the head referee at the 2006 and 2007 WPA World Nine-ball Championship, Mosconi Cup, World Cup of Pool, and World Pool Masters Tournament events, and has refereed in some capacity at every Matchroom Sport-sponsored pool event since 1997.[citation needed]
Her first competitive snooker match saw her refereeing at the 2002 Welsh Open in a match between Ken Doherty and James Wattana. Michaela now resides in Dunfermline, Scotland with her husband Scottish pool player Ross McInnes and their two children.
Prior to making her snooker debut, Michaela Tabb had already become one of the world's most respected referees in nine-ball, and has been head referee at every world championship since 1999. On numerous occasions, she has garnered respect from players and fans alike for making controversial decisions which, after television replays and slow motion analysis, have proven to be correct. She has been dubbed "Pool's Hottest Referee" because of her looks, but it was her professionalism as much as her glamorous edge that attracted the attention of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, who first signed her on as a referee. [1]
Her no-nonsense attitude has seen her become involved in several notable controversies, such as with American Earl Strickland. The two were at loggerheads for much of Strickland's 2003 empirepoker.com World Pool Championship match against Steve Davis in Cardiff, Wales to the extent that when the two met for Strickland's next round the American presented Tabb with a bunch of flowers as an apology for his behavior the previous evening.[2] At the 2007 Mosconi Cup, she was again forced to act when Strickland repeatedly heckled and taunted reigning 9-ball world champion Daryl Peach, the two almost coming to blows.
On 18 February 2007, Tabb made history by becoming the first female ever to preside over a world ranking event final at the Welsh Open in Newport, Monmouthshire, between Andrew Higginson and Neil Robertson.
Tabb appeared on BBC show Identity presented by Donny Osmond.
BBC Television - Michaela refereed the Final of the Saga Insurance final between Mark Selby & Stephen Lee on 20 January 2008, Mark Selby won the event 10-3[3].
References
- ^ Barnes, Justyn. "Michaela & The Tabbettes", Inside Pool, July/August 2004
- ^ Mike Panozzo (July 19, 2003). "Mr. Congeniality: 2003 World Championships". Billiards Digest.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ BBC SPORT | Other sport... | Snooker | Female ref excited by first major
External links
- Pictures of Michaela Tabb in action
- AZ Billiards.com interview with Michaela Tabb
- Michaela Tabb Fan Club Blog
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