Tatiana Woollaston, a leading snooker referee, will be on duty at the UK Championship starting Saturday but is barred from officiating matches involving her husband, Ben Woollaston. The rule prevents any conflict of interest, and Tatiana has stated she would not want to referee his games anyway.
Ben Woollaston, ranked 37th in the world, secured his place in the 32-player field after a dramatic 6-5 qualifying win over Joe O'Connor, coming back from 4-1 down. He now faces three-time UK champion John Higgins in the first round on Saturday night.
Tatiana, who officiated last year's UK final between Judd Trump and Barry Hawkins, is allowed to referee other matches in Ben's section of the draw. With a two-table setup until the semi-finals, she could theoretically be on duty while Ben plays, though it is unlikely.
The UK Championship, the first Triple Crown event of the season, features defending champion Judd Trump against Stephen Maguire on Saturday. World champion Zhao Xintong faces Long Zehuang on Monday, while Ronnie O'Sullivan takes on Zhou Yuelong on Tuesday. The final is scheduled for December 7.
