List of snooker referees

This article contains a list of professional snooker referees and indicates those who have officiated at the World Snooker Championship finals. John Williams presided over the most (eleven) finals, nine of those at the Crucible Theatre, including the 1985 final between Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis.[1]

All of the World Snooker Championship finals from the start of what is known as the "modern era"[2] in 1969 are included in the list, with the exception of 1970 and 1971. The referees for these two years are currently not known. Some earlier years have also been included where the information about referees is available.

Lists of referees

Current referees

Name World finals Ref.
 Junaid Ahmed (IND) [3]
 Gergő Almási (HUN) [3]
 Erik Amberg (GER) [4]
 Andrew Barklam (ENG) [3]
 Julian Bell (ENG) [3]
 Desislava Bozhilova (BUL) [5]
 Terry Camilleri (MLT) [6]
 James Chambers (ENG) [3]
 Greg Coniglio (ENG) [4]
 Alex Crișan (ROU) [3]
 Kevin Dabrowski (POL) [3]
 Robin Dalgliesh (SCO) [7]
 Nico De Vos (BEL) [3]
 Deng Shihao (CHN) [8]
 Rod Eaton (ENG) [3]
 Marcel Eckardt (GER)[a] 2020 [5]
 Sami Erkkilä (FIN) [3]
 Garry Evans (ENG) [3]
 David Ford (ENG) [3]
 Markus Freitag (GER) [3]
 Natalia Gradinari (MDA) [3]
 Nick Harry (ENG) [3]
 Colin Humphries (ENG) [5]
 Hristo Ivanov (BUL) [3]
 Kim Ivett (AUS) [3]
 Mark Jacob (GER) [3]
 Małgorzata Kanieska (POL) [3]
 Maike Kesseler (GER) [5]
 Mark King (ENG) [3]
 Luise Kraatz (GER) [3]
 Marzena Łagowska (POL) [3]
 Nigel Leddie (ENG) [4]
 Peggy Li (CHN) [3]
 Lyu Xilin (CHN) [9]
 Olivier Marteel (BEL) 2015 and 2022 [5]
 Graham Mason (ENG) [3]
 Rudy Mathues (BEL) [3]
 Radosław Matusiak (POL) [3]
 Hilde Moens (BEL) [3]
 Robin Moors (BEL) [3]
 Thorsten Mueller (GER) [4]
 Peter Ogburn (ENG) [3]
 Miłosz Olborski (POL) [4]
 John Pellew (WAL) [3]
 Erich Pließnig (AUT) [3]
 Eva Poskočilová (CZE) [3]
 Martyn Royce (ENG) [4]
 André Santos (PRT) [3]
 Jan Scheers (BEL) [3]
 Ingo Schmidt (GER) [3][10]
 Leo Scullion (SCO) 2019 [5]
 Marek Sedmak (SVK) [3]
 Rob Spencer (ENG)[b] [5]
 Monika Sułkowska (POL) [3]
 Glen Sullivan-Bisset (ENG) [3]
 Agnieszka Thomson (SCO) [3]
 Bart Tournel (BEL) [3]
 Anastasiya Tuzikava (BLR) [3]
 Proletina Velichkova (BUL) [3]
 Jan Verhaas (NED) 2003, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2017 [5][11]
 Ian Wagstaff (ENG) [3]
 Wang Haitao (CHN) [8]
 Wang Wei (CHN) [8]
 Carl Whitby (ENG) [3]
 Ben Williams (ENG) [5]
 Tatiana Woollaston (BLR) [5]
 Xie Yixin (CHN) [8]
 Andy Yates (ENG) [12]
 Robert Zabłocki (POL) [13]
 Zhang Tao (CHN) [14]
 Zheng Weili (CHN) [8]
 Zhu Ying (CHN) [8]

Former referees

Name World finals Ref.[11]
 Lawrie Annandale (SCO) 1998 [11]
 Stuart Bennett (ENG) [4]
 Colin Brinded (ENG) 1999 [11][15]
 Bill Camkin (ENG) 1927[c] [16]
 Alan Chamberlain (ENG) 1997 [17]
 Charles Chambers (ENG)[d] 1937 [18][19][20]
 Paul Collier (WAL) 2004, 2016, 2021 and 2024 [11][21]
 S.A. De-Gruchy (JEY) 1957 [22]
 Bruce Duncan (SCO) [4]
 Len Ganley (NIR)[e][f] 1983, 1987, 1990 and 1993 [11][24]: 36 
 Sydney Lee (ENG)[g] [25]: 68 
 Willie Leigh (ENG) 1934 [26]
 T. B. Leng (ENG) 1946, 1947 [27][28]
 W. Malkinson (ENG) 1929 [29]
 Michael Montalto (MLT) [6]
 Brendan Moore (ENG)[h] 2014, 2018 and 2023 [11][30]
 Patricia Murphy (IRL) [31]
 John Newton (ENG) 2000 [32]
 Johan Oomen (NED) [33]
 David Palmer (ENG) [10]
 Harold Phillips (ENG) 1969 [34]
 Fred Smith (ENG) 1928 [35]
 John Smyth (IRL) 1977 and 1982 [11][24]: 92 
 John Street (ENG) 1980, 1986, 1989, 1992 and 1995 [24]: 100 
 Michaela Tabb (SCO) 2009 and 2012 [11][36]
 Jim Thorpe (ENG) 1972 and 1984 [11][37]
 Bill Timms (ENG) 1973, 1974 and 1976 [38]
 Martin Webb (ENG) [4]
 Eirian Williams (WAL) 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2010 [11]
 John Williams (WAL) 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1988,
1991, 1994, 1996 and 2002 		[11][24]: 122 
 Peter Williamson (ENG) [39]

Notes

  1. ^ Marcel Eckardt has refereed nine 147 breaks.[4]
  2. ^ Rob Spencer has refereed twelve 147 breaks, more than any other referee.[4]
  3. ^ 1927 was the inaugural event.
  4. ^ Charles Chambers was the referee in the match that led to the rule about minimum cue length. (see cue stick)
  5. ^ Len Ganley was the referee for the fastest ever 147 break made by Ronnie O'Sullivan at the 1997 World Snooker Championship. (see fastest 147)
  6. ^ As of 11 September 2023 Len Ganley's son Mike Ganley is the WPBSA Tournament Director.[23]
  7. ^ Sydney Lee refereed Pot Black, but was not an officially qualified referee.[25]: 68 
  8. ^ Brendan Moore has refereed ten 147 breaks.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Triple Crown Final Referees". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 24 February 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Davis: O'Sullivan playing greatest snooker in sport's history". Eurosport. 28 April 2014. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar "WST Other Referees". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "147 Breaks". WPBSA. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "WST Referees". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 28 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Camilleri to referee final". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Robin Dalgliesh". WPBSA. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Chinese Referees". cuestarsacademy.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Queenie". greenbaize1972.com. 5 April 2024. Archived from the original on 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b "The Maximum Men". WPBSA. 9 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Downer, Chris (2010). Crucible Almanac. Bournemouth. p. 159.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  12. ^ "Referee: Andy Yates". WPBSA. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  13. ^ "European Tour Event Six". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Xi'an Grand Prix". snooker.org. 25 August 2024. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Snooker mourns death of referee". BBC Sport. 30 November 2005. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  16. ^ Everton, Clive (1986). The History of Snooker and Billiards. Haywards Heath: Partridge Press. p. 50. ISBN 1852250135.
  17. ^ Rawlinson, Mark (24 April 2014). "Chamberlain – The gloves are off". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 26 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  18. ^ "News of the month". The Billiard Player. W. G. Clifford. December 1938. p. 7.
  19. ^ Clare, Norman (4 March 2008). Billiards and Snooker Bygones. Shire Publications. ISBN 9780852637302.
  20. ^ Brick, F.D. (17 March 1937). "Davis wasn't so far out!". Daily Mirror. p. 30.
  21. ^ "Paul Collier to referee Crucible final". World Snooker Tour. 5 April 2024. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Pulman wins world snooker title". Jersey Evening Post. No. 15 April 1957. p. 4.
  23. ^ Baxter, Trevor (26 April 2008). "Higgins fumes at World Championship exit". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
  24. ^ a b c d Morrison, Ian (1988). Hamlyn Who's Who in Snooker. London: Hamlyn. ISBN 0600557138.
  25. ^ a b Morrison, Ian (1987). The Hamlyn Encyclopedia of Snooker. Twickenham: Hamlyn Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-60055604-6.
  26. ^ "Professional snooker championship final". The Billiard Player. W. G. Clifford. May 1934. p. 13.
  27. ^ "Professional snooker championship final". The Billiard Player. W. G. Clifford. June 1946. p. 6-7.
  28. ^ "Calling all referees". The Billiard Player. January 1948. p. 5.
  29. ^ "Snooker Championship – Joe Davis and Dennis in the final heat". Nottingham Evening Post. 4 March 1929. p. 8. Retrieved 11 November 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  30. ^ "Moore To Bow Out With Crucible Final". World Snooker Tour. 6 April 2023. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  31. ^ "Meet the girls with balls". ITV. 2010. Archived from the original on 25 October 2010.
  32. ^ "Tributes paid to top snooker referee". Lancashire Evening Post. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  33. ^ "Johan Oomen". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  34. ^ Robinson, Keith (April 1969). "Blow by blow". Billiards and Snooker. Billiards Association and Control Council. pp. 3–6.
  35. ^ "Amateur snooker championship". Leamington Spa Courier. 18 May 1928. Retrieved 21 November 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. ^ "Profile - Michaela Tabb". World Snooker Tour. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  37. ^ "Collier to Join Select Group". WPBSA. 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  38. ^ "Hat-trick for Bill". Lincolnshire Echo. 7 April 1976. p. 9. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Peter Williamson". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.