Snooker referee Tatiana Woollaston has been praised for an act of kindness towards world champion Wu Yize at the Crucible. The 39-year-old, who has officiated at the World Snooker Championship since 2020, was spotted helping the 22-year-old Chinese player with his bow tie backstage.
Footage captured the moment Woollaston straightened Wu's tie and folded down his collar, with the player politely responding, “Thank you”. The clip has since surfaced on social media, drawing widespread praise for the referee’s thoughtful gesture.
Woollaston acknowledged the attention in a post on X, saying: “Even had messages from my work colleagues in China with this clip. Things you do as a snooker ref.” Fans responded warmly, with one calling it “a beautiful moment” and others joking that her maternal instincts had kicked in.
Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan previously described Woollaston as the “best ref in the world by a mile”. She oversaw her first Triple Crown final at the UK Championship in 2024. However, she is barred from refereeing matches involving her husband, professional player Ben Woollaston, with whom she has two sons.
