Snooker icon Mark Allen shared his ideas on a referee forward of the Masters closing.
Mark Allen took to social media to debate a snooker referee (Picture: Tai Chengzhe/VCG by way of Getty Pictures)
Snooker icon Mark Allen delivered a cultured message to referee Tatiana Woollaston, days after lacking out on a second Masters title. The 39-year-old misplaced to Judd Trump within the quarter-finals of the celebrated event, which Kyren Wilson clinched on Sunday.
Wilson triumphed 10-6 over veteran John Higgins within the closing at Alexandra Palace. The 2024 world champion was emotional after avenging his defeat in final 12 months’s closing to Shaun Murphy and claiming his first Masters title. Nonetheless, the previous world champion was not the one particular person breaking new floor on the weekend. Referee Woollaston oversaw the Masters closing for the primary time in her storied profession, a feat Allen celebrated on social media.
Responding to a World Snooker Tour interview with the official, Allen posted on X: “An apparent assertion however worthwhile nonetheless however probably the greatest refs we’ve ever had. Absolutely deserving of this second. It received’t be her final both.”
It marks the second Triple Crown closing of the referee’s profession after she took cost of the 2024 UK Championship showdown between Trump and Barry Hawkins. She has additionally officiated a World Snooker Championship semi-final.
Forward of the Masters closing, Woollaston stated: “I am actually, actually excited. It is huge occasion for the gamers, the Triple Crown occasions. However it’s additionally huge for the referees. I am actually trying ahead to it.”
It isn’t the primary time that the referee, who’s married to snooker participant Ben Woollaston, has been praised by star names within the sport. In 2024, when discussing the official, Ronnie O’Sullivan informed Eurosport “Greatest ref on this planet by a mile. All day lengthy for me.”
Tatiana Woollaston is among the world’s main snooker referees (Picture: Alex Pantling/Getty Pictures)
Whereas her subsequent purpose will probably be to take cost of a world closing, Tatiana could be unable to supervise any match involving her husband, Ben. The couple have two kids collectively however are by no means paired up on the snooker circuit.
Talking earlier than the 2024 UK Championship, she defined their dynamic: “He is on the circuit as a participant, I am on the circuit as a referee. We have by no means actually combine that. I am clearly not allowed to referee his video games and I would not need to, to be truthful.”
In the meantime, new Masters champion Wilson had his personal trigger for celebration after overcoming Higgins within the closing. It proved to be a battle for Wilson, who held his nerve to safe the coveted title and the £350,000 grand prize.
An apparent assertion however worthwhile nonetheless however probably the greatest refs we’ve ever had. Absolutely deserving of this second. It received’t be her final both https://t.co/Us56jvNQw3
— Mark Allen (@pistol147) January 18, 2026
“In 2018 I misplaced within the closing and cried and I am making an attempt to not cry now because it means a lot to me,” he informed BBC Sport. “It was an honour and privilege to share the desk with an idol of mine.
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“It was simply an absolute dogfight and I attempted to be as dogged as John has been through the years, and that’s the reason he has been so profitable. I am glad he is managed to offer me one for a change.
“I by no means make it simple for myself. I all the time appear to do it the onerous approach. I do not know why, it frustrates the life out of me however I’ll all the time give it my all. Even when I am struggling I’ll combat till the top till I lastly get my palms on some silverware.”
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