Tatiana Woollaston (born Tatiana Torchilo, alternative spelling Tatiana Tarchyla, Belarusian: Таццяна Тарчыла, romanized: Tatstsiana Tarchyla, 8 November 1986 in Pinsk, Soviet Union)[1] is a professional snooker referee. She is an official referee of the WPBSA, EASB, EBSA and BSF.[1][2][3]
 Ben and Tatiana Woollaston in Mir, near Minsk 2011. | |
| Born | 8 November 1986 Pinsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  Belarus |
| Professional | 2010–present |
Career
editSnooker referee
editIn March 2008, Woollaston started refereeing amateur snooker events in Belarus. She qualified as a Class 3 snooker referee a year later in March 2009, during European Team Snooker Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia,[4] and became a referee member of European Billiards and Snooker Association. In May 2010, she refereed the European Individual Snooker Championship in Bucharest, Romania.[3] Woollaston made her ranking tournament debut in August 2010 at European Players Tour Championships event one (Paul Hunter Classic 2010) in Fürth, Germany.
On 21 November 2010, Woollaston became the first referee from Eastern Europe to officiate at a world-ranking snooker semi-final at the Euro Players Tour Championship event six in Prague, the Czech Republic, as John Higgins defeated Joe Jogia by 4 frames to 2.
In 2011, Woollaston qualified as a Class 2 snooker referee, and joined EASB as an official referee.[2] She made her television debut live on Eurosport at the Paul Hunter Classic later that year.[5][better source needed]
She refereed her 1st Triple Crown final at the 2024 UK Championship.
Personal life
editShe graduated from Belarus State Economic University,[1] where she studied finance, banking and credit. She received a master's degree in economics. Before moving to the UK, she worked as a teacher at Belarus State Economic University in Minsk.[1]
She married Ben Woollaston, a professional snooker player, in June 2011.[6] Later that year, she moved to the UK, and now lives with her husband in Leicester, England. Her husband had won the Players Tour Championship event three in Sheffield the day before she moved to the UK.[7] They have two sons, born on 8 November 2012[8] and 21 October 2017.
References
edit- ^ a b c d Official Belarusian Snooker Federation Website Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b EASB Official Referees Retrieved 19 October 2011
- ^ a b "List of EBSA Snooker referees". Archived from the original on 18 November 2011.
- ^ "European Team Championship 2009. Officials". Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- ^ First TV frame of Tatiana Woollaston in live coverage. Eurosport channel.
- ^ "Pretty In Pinsk". World Snooker. WPBSA. 23 June 2011. Archived from the original on 9 May 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "Woollaston Wins First Pro Title at PTC3". World Snooker. WPBSA. 21 August 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "New Arrival For The Woollastons". World Snooker. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 9 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2021.