World Snooker Champs final ref was forced to bang on commentary box window after disturbance
World Snooker Champs final ref was forced to bang on commentary box window after disturbance
Desislava Bozhilova is set to become only the second woman to referee a World Snooker Championship final, just three years after she was forced to hush the BBC commentary team
Desislava Bozhilova will referee a Crucible final on Sunday
(Image: Getty Images )
Fan-favourite referee Desislava Bozhilova took matters into her own hands during a World Snooker Championship semi-final by knocking on the commentary box window to silence broadcasters.
This Sunday, Bozhilova is set to become only the second woman to officiate a Crucible final, but three years ago, she was reprimanding commentators at the renowned snooker venue.
Back in 2022, Judd Trump and iconic Welshman Mark Williams - who are currently duelling it out in Sheffield - were locked in a tense battle. As Trump prepared to take his shot in the eighth frame, an unexpected knock off-camera interrupted the Englishman.
The audience erupted into laughter after the incident, and Eurosport's commentators explained that it was Bozhilova who had knocked on the BBC window, requesting they keep the noise down as it had been putting off the potter.
"Just a bit of noise coming from the host broadcaster's studio," the Eurosport commentary team acknowledged, likely alluding to the BBC. "Desislava banged on the window and told them to keep quiet. That's the way to do it!".
After the light-hearted disturbance, Trump confidently secured a 7-1 lead in the initial semi-final session. Yet, what unfolded thereafter became one of the most thrilling matches in Crucible history, reports the Express.
Article continues below
The match saw Trump carry forward his lead to see things stand at 11-5, but the legendary Williams staged a remarkable comeback, narrowing the gap to 13-11, then levelling the score at 13-13, and eventually 15-15 in the final session.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
Both players traded frames, setting the stage for a nail-biting deciding frame. Williams edged ahead 16-15, only for Trump to pull things back level.
Ultimately, Trump would claim victory in the thrilling 17-16 contest, though the Ace in the Pack later succumbed to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final, losing 18-13.
Fast forward to the present, and both players are locked in a closely contested semi-final, each vying for a spot in the final against the talented Chinese player Zhao Xintong.
Referee Bozhilova is set to officiate Sunday's main event, where she will once again encounter one of the former world champions, and has expressed her excitement about overseeing such a prestigious match, calling it a true 'dream'.
Article continues below
"I am really excited, it was an amazing feeling when I was given the news," Bozhilova, who is poised to become only the second woman to referee a world final, following in the footsteps of Michaela Tabb, who achieved this feat in 2009 and 2012, told World Snooker.
"It is what I have worked towards for many years. It has been my dream. It will be different to any other final because of the atmosphere at the Crucible.
"Since I started working in snooker, I have learned everything from the more experienced referees. They give advice and tell us how to improve. There is a lot of teamwork, and we support each other."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Murray leaves door open to coaching return
June 10 (Reuters) - Former world number one Andy Murray has left the door open to a coaching return after his short stint with Novak Djokovic ended without a trophy, but the Scot said he did not expect to be working with another player anytime soon. Serb Djokovic appointed Murray ahead of this year's Australian Open and said at the Qatar Open in February they would continue working together for an indefinite period. However, the 24-times Grand Slam champion then endured a woeful run of form and the pair parted ways last month ahead of the French Open. "I would do it again at some stage. I don't think that will happen immediately," Murray told the BBC on Monday. "I wasn't planning on going into coaching as soon as I finished playing but it was a pretty unique opportunity. "It was a chance to learn from one of the best athletes of all time. You also learn a lot about how to work with a team. "You're working with a physio, physical trainers, agents, and you need to know how to get your message across to the player and find out what makes them tick. "That was the thing I learned and something I need to work on if I want to do it again in the future," added Murray. Though they won no titles in their six-month partnership, Murray said he had good memories of his time working with former rival Djokovic. "It was a brilliant opportunity for me. We got to spend some really nice moments away from the court," the three-times Grand Slam champion added. "Results weren't as we wanted but we gave it a go. We'll see about coaching in the future but I don't think that will happen for a while."
Metro
10 hours ago
- Metro
Zak Surety on wild Crucible debut: They can't ever move from there - it's mad
Zak Surety had a very eventful debut at the World Snooker Championship this year and although he both loved and hated the experience, he was convinced that the 'mad' Crucible is the perfect home for the event. The 33-year-old enjoyed his best ever season by a long stretch, reaching a first semi-final at the World Open and finishing the campaign with a Crucible debut after brilliant performances in qualifying. At the iconic Sheffield theatre he faced Chinese superstar Ding Junhui and the pair produced an amazing opening round contest. Ding went 4-0 up as Surety struggled with the occasion and things looked very sticky for the Englishman at the first interval. 'At the start I walked out and sat in my seat and that was the strangest I've ever felt,' Surety told Metro. 'I've never felt that uncomfortable. My arms didn't feel part of my body. It felt like my tip didn't belong to me. Everything felt wrong. 'I've got myself in a bit of a state and I'm 4-0 down. I'm in the dressing room thinking I really don't want to go out there. It's your dream, but I just didn't want to go back out there because I was making myself look like an absolute idiot.' Surety has spoken openly about his struggles with anxiety before, so it is to his immense credit that he overcame those feelings in some style, starting with only losing that first session 6-3. 'I made a century the last frame of the first session,' he remembers. 'When the screen came up it was probably the best buzz I've ever had because it was the whole Crucible to myself. The noise in there! I was welling up as I got to 90 and thought, is this really me? 'Obviously then the second day I flew.' He certainly did, becoming the first player in Crucible history to make four centuries on debut and although he ultimately lost 10-7, he did anything but make himself look like an absolute idiot. 'I actually watched the second session back last week and I don't feel like it's me,' he said. 'It's just some random bald bloke on the tele. I'm watching it back and thinking, did that really happen? 'I felt weird after because I left, I've set a record, I've played well, I can go home and the pressure of it is all over. They're all talking about me on the tele, great position going into next season, everything's good. 'Then you're home and you think about it and that was such a good chance. I was playing so well, I could have done something there and it quickly goes from feeling quite content about the whole experience to being quite annoyed.' Mixed feelings sums up the Crucible experience as Surety's first game there epitomised the cliché that the venue is both the best and worst place to play snooker. 'I sat down and tried to convince myself it was going to be the best place on Earth, but you get it drummed into your head how you're meant to feel in there,' he said. 'Mark Allen asked me how I was feeling and told me that he was there for the 19th time and still struggles every time he walks out there. It's like it's normal. 'I watched the opening morning before travelling up and Steve Davis said on camera: 'I can't wait to watch the top players in the world squirm under the pressure of the Crucible.' I looked at my girlfriend and said: 'Bloody hell, that's me this year!'' 'Although I hated those first four frames, that's how I'm meant to feel. You sit there, look left and that's where Steve Davis picked up all them trophies. I was looking up at the lights on the roof and tearing up. How the hell am I here? You find yourself losing yourself in the history of the place. 'At the start it felt like the walls sucked in on me and you just notice every set of eyes in the whole arena. I thought they were on me, which they were, but you notice it. The next day I was flying and it was like no one else was in there.' Surety was a huge fan of the place before playing there, but is now convinced that the unique nature of the Crucible is why it should remain the home of the World Championship, beyond the current contract which ends in 2027. 'They can't ever move from there,' he said. 'It's just…it's mad. 'It's so small in there, I think you're only allowed two back stage passes, but it works because you walk into the Champions Lounge upstairs and there's Stephen Hendry. As I walked in he said: 'Great run in the World Open, well done for qualifying, I'm glad to see you doing well.' I'd never spoken to Stephen Hendry before! Things like that make it mad.' The challenge for Surety now is to build on the very encouraging end to last season and make it back to the Crucible next year, something he is working hard on. 'I lost to Ding on the Tuesday and I was back here in the club on the Wednesday,' he said. 'I quite like that time of year because you're not practising for anything, just playing and having a laugh.' More Trending The popular Essex star also had a summer of cue questions which has seen him chop, change and return to old faithful which arrived from eBay a decade ago. 'My cue's not the greatest. I love it, but it's an old Chinese cue that my dad picked up off eBay about 10 years ago for 130 quid,' he explained. 'There are a lot better cues, but it's obviously my own. 'John Parris has made me a new one and I used it for three or four days. I like using other cues as a bit of a challenge. I think I've made a century with near enough every bit of wood in the club. But when it's handed to you and this could be something you're going into the season with, I couldn't do it. 'I had to call John and say you can have your you're very expensive, beautiful cue back. I want me little piece of poo off eBay back and I I'm cracking on.' MORE: Wuhan Open and British Open draws made as Ronnie O'Sullivan enters both MORE: Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty disagree on most underrated snooker player ever MORE: Anthony Hamilton reflects on epic career as Sheriff of Pottingham hands in his badge
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Scotsman
Notable victory for Steve Clarke as Scotland boss on cusp of outright record - but hold the hosannas
4-0 win may not silence detractors but there was cause for optimism Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Victory in Vaduz, a hat-trick for Che Adams and relief for Steve Clarke. Such brief match reports do not really fit the bill in a newspaper - or even online. But these were the major takeaways for Scotland and principally their manager following a 4-0 victory over Liechtenstein. Clarke knew he could ill afford anything less than a straightforward win, which is what this was against a country ranked 205 in the world. Hold the hosannas, however. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Some might contend that little else ought to be derived from this one-sided contest high in the Alps. It did at least supply some closure after a sometimes torrid 12 months for the men's international team and took Clarke onto the 71-match mark as manager, which means he has drawn level at the top with Craig Brown (Brown also had one extra match as caretaker). Che Adams scores his and Scotland's second goal en route to netting a hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein in Vaduz. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images Clarke will move into the outright first position in this list of permanent Scotland managers when he leads the national side into World Cup qualifying in the Autumn. According to some, the miserable home friendly defeat to Iceland on Friday night, which came hard on the heels of a comprehensive reversal against Greece at Hampden in March, was further proof that he should not be given this responsibility. Even now, there will be many who believe someone else should lead Scotland. A comfortable win over Liechtenstein will not necessarily alter their view. Despite such strength of feeling, the only person departing will be John Carver. Clarke has confirmed that his assistant coach has signed a full-time contract with Polish club Lechia. Vaduz, where this match took place, is not so very far from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where Scotland were just settling in this time last year following their arrival at their scenic Euro 2024 base. Clarke's side didn't humiliate the opposition quite like what was visited on them by Germany in the opening game of those finals but the same margin of victory must be gladly accepted nonetheless. There were some points worth noting other than the headline observations, with Adams scoring Scotland's first hat-trick since a John McGinn treble against San Marino six years ago (and first in a friendly for nearly 60 years, since Colin Stein struck four times in a friendly v Cyprus in 1967). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Torino striker completed this in timely fashion – his header from substitute Tommy Conway's cross was the last action of the match. Scotland went out on a high. It might not be a case of roll on next season, and an away double-header against Denmark and Belarus, but some optimism exists. Lennon Miller made an impressive full debut for Scotland in the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein. | SNS Group Motherwell teen a welcome addition Lennon Miller made an impressive full debut, where he distinguished himself with an assist and further caught the eye with intelligent flicks and a willingness to move the ball around quickly. He always seemed to be in position to receive a pass. It is hard to believe he is just 18-years-old although easy to see why Motherwell made him captain last season. Another midfielder might not be what Scotland desperately need but he is a welcome addition to the list of options. A striker, meanwhile, is on the list of desirable additions. George Hirst followed up his lively performance against Iceland with a goalscoring one here. He was unfortunate to be denied a goal on Friday following a VAR review that confirmed Scott McTominay had strayed offside in the build-up. Clarke later commented that he could have had a hat-trick, having been denied by two good saves while missing another good chance with a header over. While it was his strike partner Adams who got the hat-trick on this occasion – and isn't it good to be able to use the term 'strike partner' in relation to Scotland – Hirst will be happy enough to simply get off the mark in a Scotland shirt. It's now a case of three strikers with a reasonable chance of leading the line next time out against Denmark – Adams, Hirst or Lyndon Dykes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The first-named, though, surely remains in pole position having significantly improved his goal ratio statistics, which, before kick-off, stood at one in his last 19 international appearances. This record is now a slightly more respectable four in 20. It was a better start for Scotland than on Friday, when they lost goalkeeper Angus Gunn to injury in the opening minutes. Here they started like a team wishing to address some issues. Adams thrashed in the opener after four minutes following a corner that was won by Hirst. Miller's miscued effort when the ball was partially cleared landed at Adams' feet from a deflection and he rifled a shot into the goal with a venom that spoke of some pent-up anger. He had Miller to thank for his second after 25 minutes, with the teenager reacting well after a poor pass from 'keeper Benjamin Buchel had put Nicolas Hasler under pressure. Miller dispossessed the skipper and offloaded to Adams, whose finish wrong-footed Buchel. Hirst's goal was a typical No 9's and arrived just three minutes after half-time. He swept in at the back post after Adams helped on Tony Ralston's cross after a McGinn effort had hit the post and rebounded out. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Emergency call-up 'keeper Ross Doohan might as well have still been on that beach in Turkey. Never mind breaking out of their own half, Liechtenstein could barely emerge from within an area around 30 yards from their own goal-line. Doohan does, though, have a cap to his name now, which is something very worthwhile from this strange period where he is suspended between being an Aberdeen player and a Celtic one. He was happy to see an effort from wing-back Kenny Kindle drift by his far post shortly before half-time.
