Michaela Tabb
Encyclopedia
Michaela Tabb is a snooker
and pool referee
who has established a number of significant milestones for female officials in professional cue sports. In May 2009 she became the first woman to officiate at a World Snooker Championship
final, the sport's highest refereeing honour.
Tabb formerly played on the women's eight-ball pool circuit, winning a number of titles as a solo competitor and as a member, and later captain, of the Scottish Ladies' Pool Team.
As an individual competitor, Tabb won the UK women's singles title in 1997. The following year, she won the European Women's Pool Championship in Gibraltar
.
Tabb made her professional refereeing debut at the St. Andrew's Cup nine-ball pool tournament in September 1997. She refereed on television for the first time the following year, when the 1998 St. Andrew's Cup, sponsored by Barry Hearn
's Matchroom Sport
, was broadcast on Sky
. Tabb went on to become one of pool's top officials; she has refereed at the WPA World Nine-ball Championship
, the Mosconi Cup
, and the sport's other premiere events.
, recruited Tabb to the sport in 2001. McKenzie exempted Tabb from the customary five-year refereeing apprenticeship and placed her on a fast-track toward officiating at professional ranking tournaments. She qualified as a Class 3 snooker referee in September 2001. She later conceded that this fast-tracking generated resentment among her fellow officials and referees.
Tabb made her ranking tournament debut on 23 January 2002 at the Welsh Open
, where she refereed a first-round match between Ken Doherty
and James Wattana
. On 19 April 2003, she made her World Snooker Championship debut at the Crucible Theatre
in Sheffield
, when she took charge of a first-round match between Mark King
and Drew Henry
.
In July 2003, Tabb's future in snooker was threatened when dwindling sponsorship revenue forced the WPBSA to cut its number of tournament referees from ten to eight. Her contract, along with that of Dutch referee Johan Oomen, was terminated on a "last in, first out" basis. However, the WPBSA soon reversed its decision to dismiss Tabb; she signed a new contract in September 2003.
On 18 February 2007, Tabb became the first woman to officiate at a world-ranking snooker final when she presided over Neil Robertson
's 9–8 defeat of Andrew Higginson
at the Welsh Open in Newport
. On 20 January 2008, she refereed the final of the 2008 Masters at Wembley Arena
in London, as Mark Selby
defeated Stephen Lee
by 10 frames to 3. On 5 April 2009, Tabb took charge of the 2009 China Open final in Beijing, where Peter Ebdon
beat John Higgins by 10 frames to 8.
On 3 and 4 May 2009, Tabb became the first female referee to take charge of a World Snooker Championship final, officiating as John Higgins defeated Shaun Murphy
by 18 frames to 9 to capture his third world title. During the interval of the final's third session, the BBC
broadcast a profile of Tabb, in which she discussed the pressures of juggling her family life with her busy refereeing and travel schedule.
where she studied chemistry, biology, and sociology, although she left before receiving her degree. Before becoming a full-time professional referee, she worked as an advertising salesperson and as a job recruitment agent.
Tabb resides in Dunfermline
, Scotland, with her husband Ross McInnes and their two children.
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
and pool referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
who has established a number of significant milestones for female officials in professional cue sports. In May 2009 she became the first woman to officiate at a World Snooker Championship
World Snooker Championship
The World Snooker Championship is the leading professional snooker tournament in terms of both prize money and ranking points. The first championship was held in 1927; since 1977, it has been played at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England...
final, the sport's highest refereeing honour.
Tabb formerly played on the women's eight-ball pool circuit, winning a number of titles as a solo competitor and as a member, and later captain, of the Scottish Ladies' Pool Team.
Pool player
Introduced to the game of pool by a boyfriend, Tabb started playing competitively in 1991, at the age of 23. Selected for the Scottish Ladies' Pool Team in 1992, she captained the team to two consecutive "Grand Slams" in 1997 and 1998, accomplished by winning the Nations Cup, European Championships, and World Championships in the same season. She remained on the team until 2003. Her sister, Juliette Tabb, also played on the Scottish ladies' team between 1996 and 2008.As an individual competitor, Tabb won the UK women's singles title in 1997. The following year, she won the European Women's Pool Championship in Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
.
Pool referee
Tabb became involved in amateur tournament refereeing in the mid-1990s, when she and her husband, professional pool player Ross McInnes, began running eight-ball and nine-ball pool tournaments. McInnes subsequently encouraged Tabb to pursue refereeing at a professional level.Tabb made her professional refereeing debut at the St. Andrew's Cup nine-ball pool tournament in September 1997. She refereed on television for the first time the following year, when the 1998 St. Andrew's Cup, sponsored by Barry Hearn
Barry Hearn
Barry Hearn is an English sporting events promoter, and the founder and chairman of promotions company Matchroom Sport. He is currently the chairman of Leyton Orient F.C., and the Professional Darts Corporation and was also until July 2010 chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker...
's Matchroom Sport
Matchroom Sport
Matchroom Sport is a sport event promotions company founded by the English entrepreneur Barry Hearn. It first came to attention in the sports of snooker and boxing and is also involved in pool, bowling, golf , fishing, darts and poker...
, was broadcast on Sky
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
. Tabb went on to become one of pool's top officials; she has refereed at the WPA World Nine-ball Championship
WPA World Nine-ball Championship
The WPA World Nine-ball Championship is an annual, international, professional nine-ball pool tournament, founded in 1990, sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association , and principally sponsored and organised by Matchroom Sport...
, the Mosconi Cup
Mosconi Cup
The Mosconi Cup is an annual nine-ball pool tournament contested between teams representing Europe and the USA since 1994. The trophy is named after American player Willie Mosconi, and is modeled on and compared to the Ryder Cup in golf...
, and the sport's other premiere events.
Snooker referee
Stating that he wanted to change the dowdy, all-male image of snooker referees, Jim McKenzie, then chief executive of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker AssociationWorld Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, often abbreviated to the WPBSA, founded in 1968 and based in Bristol, England, United Kingdom is the governing body of professional snooker and English billiards...
, recruited Tabb to the sport in 2001. McKenzie exempted Tabb from the customary five-year refereeing apprenticeship and placed her on a fast-track toward officiating at professional ranking tournaments. She qualified as a Class 3 snooker referee in September 2001. She later conceded that this fast-tracking generated resentment among her fellow officials and referees.
Tabb made her ranking tournament debut on 23 January 2002 at the Welsh Open
Welsh Open (snooker)
The Welsh Open is a professional ranking snooker tournament. It replaced the Welsh Professional Championship, which started in 1980 and was only open to Welsh players.- History :...
, where she refereed a first-round match between Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty
Ken Doherty is an Irish professional snooker player. He is the only player ever to have been world amateur and world professional champion...
and James Wattana
James Wattana
James Wattana is a Thai professional snooker player.-Career:...
. On 19 April 2003, she made her World Snooker Championship debut at the Crucible Theatre
Crucible Theatre
The Crucible Theatre is a theatre built in 1971 and located in the city centre of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. As well as theatrical performances, it is home to the most important event in professional snooker, the World Snooker Championship....
in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, when she took charge of a first-round match between Mark King
Mark King (snooker player)
Mark King is an English professional snooker player. He has not yet won a ranking tournament, but came close when he was a beaten finalist in the 1997 Regal Welsh Open and the 2004 Irish Masters.- Career :...
and Drew Henry
Drew Henry
Drew Henry is a former Scottish professional snooker player, who spent five seasons in the top 32 in the rankings in his career, peaking at #18.-Career:...
.
In July 2003, Tabb's future in snooker was threatened when dwindling sponsorship revenue forced the WPBSA to cut its number of tournament referees from ten to eight. Her contract, along with that of Dutch referee Johan Oomen, was terminated on a "last in, first out" basis. However, the WPBSA soon reversed its decision to dismiss Tabb; she signed a new contract in September 2003.
On 18 February 2007, Tabb became the first woman to officiate at a world-ranking snooker final when she presided over Neil Robertson
Neil Robertson (snooker player)
Neil Robertson is an Australian professional snooker player and the 2010 World Champion and World #4...
's 9–8 defeat of Andrew Higginson
Andrew Higginson
Andrew Higginson is an English professional snooker player, currently living in Widnes. He is best known for reaching the final of the 2007 Welsh Open as a virtual unknown...
at the Welsh Open in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
. On 20 January 2008, she refereed the final of the 2008 Masters at Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena
Wembley Arena is an indoor arena, at Wembley, in the London Borough of Brent. The building is opposite Wembley Stadium.-History:...
in London, as Mark Selby
Mark Selby
Mark Anthony Selby is an English professional snooker and pool player. Runner up in the World Snooker Championship 2007, he was the 2006 WEPF World Eight-ball Champion. Selby has won the Masters on two occasions, the Welsh Open and the Shanghai Masters...
defeated Stephen Lee
Stephen Lee
Stephen Lee is a professional snooker-player from Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, whose smooth cue action is regarded by some pundits as the most natural in the game. He has won four ranking titles, and spent 10 seasons in the Top 16 of the world rankings before dropping out for the snooker...
by 10 frames to 3. On 5 April 2009, Tabb took charge of the 2009 China Open final in Beijing, where Peter Ebdon
Peter Ebdon
Peter "Ebbo" Ebdon is an English professional snooker player and former world champion renowned for his remarkably focused, determined style of play.-Early years:...
beat John Higgins by 10 frames to 8.
On 3 and 4 May 2009, Tabb became the first female referee to take charge of a World Snooker Championship final, officiating as John Higgins defeated Shaun Murphy
Shaun Murphy (snooker player)
Shaun Murphy is an English professional snooker player, who won the 2005 World Championship. Nicknamed "The Magician", Murphy is noted for his straight cue action and his long potting. He is known for his dedication and for being a devout Christian.Born in Harlow, England, Murphy turned...
by 18 frames to 9 to capture his third world title. During the interval of the final's third session, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
broadcast a profile of Tabb, in which she discussed the pressures of juggling her family life with her busy refereeing and travel schedule.
Personal life
Tabb attended the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
where she studied chemistry, biology, and sociology, although she left before receiving her degree. Before becoming a full-time professional referee, she worked as an advertising salesperson and as a job recruitment agent.
Tabb resides in Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
, Scotland, with her husband Ross McInnes and their two children.