Mark Allen discussed a prominent snooker referee ahead of the Masters final
Mark Allen delivered glowing praise of Masters final referee Tatiana Woollaston just days after losing to Judd Trump in the quarter-finals. The 39-year-old was denied a second Masters crown, with Kyren Wilson ultimately lifting the trophy on Sunday.
Wilson secured a 10-6 victory over John Higgins in the final at Alexandra Palace. The 2024 world champion became visibly moved after putting his defeat to Shaun Murphy in last year’s final behind him to secure his maiden Masters title.
Yet the former world champion wasn’t the only one achieving a milestone over the weekend. Woollaston presided over the Masters final for the first time in her distinguished career, a moment Allen welcomed on social media.
Reacting to a World Snooker Tour interview with the official, Allen wrote on X: “An obvious statement but worthwhile nonetheless but one of the best refs we’ve ever had. Fully deserving of this moment. It won’t be her last either.”
This represents the second Triple Crown final of Woollaston’s career, having previously overseen the 2024 UK Championship final between Trump and Barry Hawkins. She has also refereed a World Snooker Championship semi-final.
Speaking before the Masters final, Woollaston remarked: “I’m really, really excited. It’s massive event for the players, the Triple Crown events. But it’s also massive for the referees. I’m really looking forward to it.”
The referee, who is married to snooker player Ben Woollaston, has previously been celebrated by other big names in the sport. In 2024, Ronnie O’Sullivan said of Woollaston on Eurosport: “Best ref in the world by a mile. All day long for me.”
While Tatiana will aspire to officiate a world final next, she would be unable to referee any match involving her husband Ben. The married couple, who have two children, are never paired together on the snooker circuit.
Ahead of the 2024 UK Championship, she explained their professional relationship: “He’s on the circuit as a player, I’m on the circuit as a referee. We’ve never really mix that. I’m obviously not allowed to referee his games and I wouldn’t want to, to be fair.”
Aside from Woollaston’s latest career highlight, newly-crowned Masters champion Wilson also had reason to celebrate after defeating Higgins in the final. It was a hard-fought victory for Wilson, who kept his composure to clinch the prestigious title and the £350,000 grand prize.
Reflecting on his win, her told BBC Sport: “In 2018 I lost in the final and cried and I’m trying not to cry now as it means so much to me,” and added, “It was an honour and privilege to share the table with an idol of mine.
“It was just an absolute dogfight and I tried to be as dogged as John has been over the years, and that is why he has been so successful. I’m glad he’s managed to give me one for a change.
“I never make it easy for myself. I always seem to do it the hard way. I don’t know why, it frustrates the life out of me but I will always give it my all. Even if I’m struggling I will fight until the end until I finally get my hands on some silverware.”
