Fashion by Day, Snooker by Night: Tatiana Woollaston Shines on Sport’s Biggest Stage While Juggling a Full-Time Career

Tatiana Woollaston may be one of the most respected referees on the professional snooker circuit, but by day, she lives a very different life — working as a merchandiser for fashion retailer Next in Leicester. Despite regularly featuring on television screens during some of the sport’s biggest matches, including the UK Championship final and the World Championship semi-finals, refereeing remains a passionate hobby rather than her full-time career.

Tatiana is married to professional snooker player Ben Woollaston, who recently returned to the Crucible for his first World Championship appearance in 12 years. However, their professional paths remain firmly separate. As per official rules, Tatiana cannot officiate any of Ben’s matches — not that she would want to. “I’m obviously not allowed to referee his games and I wouldn’t want to, to be fair,” she remarked, emphasizing their individual careers within the sport.

Her journey into the world of snooker refereeing began humbly. “I found one of the guys on social media and asked if I could try and referee,” she explained. That led to an invitation to a refereeing meeting — and the start of an impressive rise in the sport.

Since making her Crucible debut in 2020, Tatiana has become a familiar and respected figure on the table. Her dual life often surprises fans. “That’s a surprise for people, that I’ve got a full-time job,” she said. “Refereeing is my hobby.” Thankfully, her employer is very supportive, often allowing her to work remotely from hotel rooms when on tour.

Tatiana’s rise also reflects a broader shift in snooker. Where once the presence of female referees like Michaela Tabb was a rarity, the sport now boasts a growing number of women officials from across the globe. “We’re just being seen as officials,” she said. “It’s not news anymore. As long as you’re good at your job, it doesn’t matter.”