Michaela Tabb announced her retirement from traditional snooker earlier this week, with fellow female referee Tatiana Woollaston paying tribute by labelling her an “inspiration”

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s favourite referee, Tatiana Woollaston, has paid a heart-warming tribute to a legendary female official who recently retired from traditional snooker.

Michaela Tabb, 57, bid farewell to the Crucible Theatre after overseeing the first five frames of the World Seniors Snooker Tour final between Alfie Burden and Aaron Canavan on Sunday. Tabb tore down barriers by becoming the first woman to referee at a world ranking tournament, before going on to be the first female to officiate a World Championship final at the Crucible in 2009.

The Somerset-born Scot also took charge of the 2012 final, having been fast-tracked by the snooker authorities and made her debut on the ranking circuit back in 2002.

She paved the way for a new generation of female referees in snooker, having cited the rise of younger officials as a reason for her being able to step back now.

Tabb will continue to referee the Snooker Legends 900, but several prominent figures in the sport have paid tribute by…