Michaela Tabb has retired as a snooker referee after taking charge of her last match at the Crucible Theatre, having made history at the venue as the first female to referee a World Championship final

Trailblazing referee Michaela Tabb has brought the curtain down on her traditional snooker career after officiating her last match at the iconic Crucible Theatre. The 57-year-old bid farewell after refereeing the opening five frames of the World Seniors Snooker Tour final between Alfie Burden and Aaron Canavan on Sunday.

Tabb, who made history by being the first female referee at a world ranking tournament, went on to become the first woman to officiate the World Championship final at the Crucible in 2009. She passed the baton to fellow female referee Proletina Velichkova after the initial five frames of the WSST final.

Although Tabb will continue to referee the Snooker Legends 900, she expressed her excitement about retiring from traditional snooker.

Ahead of her last final in Sheffield, she said: “I’m excited to hang up my gloves if I’m being honest, for traditional snooker. I think I’ve done my time.

“I’m getting to an age where it would be nice to watch other…