Who Is Michaela Tabb? Age, Biography and Wiki
Michaela Tabb, born on December 11, 1967, in London, England, is a renowned British snooker referee who has made significant contributions to the sport. With a passion for snooker that commenced in her childhood, Michaela quickly established herself as one of the most respected referees in the industry. Her expertise and authoritative presence have made her a familiar face in various prestigious snooker tournaments, including the World Snooker Championship. As of 2025, Michaela Tabb is 57 years old and continues to be a celebrated figure in the world of snooker.
| Occupation | Referee |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 11, 1967 |
| Age | 57 Years |
| Birth Place | Bath, Somerset, England |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | England |
Popularity
Michaela Tabb's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Michaela Tabb stands at an impressive height of 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm). Her weight is approximately 130 lbs (59 kg), contributing to her visibly fit and active lifestyle. While specific body measurements are not widely documented, Michaela maintains a healthy and balanced physique, reflecting her commitment to fitness.
Tabb left the professional snooker tour in March 2015 following a dispute with the sport's commercial arm, World Snooker Ltd, against which she brought a case alleging sex discrimination, unfair dismissal, and breach of contract.
The parties reached an out-of-court settlement in September 2015, under which World Snooker Ltd paid Tabb an undisclosed financial sum. She continued to referee at pool events and on the World Seniors Tour. In May 2025, following the 2025 World Seniors Championship, she retired from refereeing standard snooker events.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Michaela Tabb remains private about her personal life, particularly regarding her relationship status. While there have been rumors in the past about her romantic interests, she has not publicly confirmed any boyfriend or partner. Michaela has always emphasized her commitment to her career and tends to keep her family life away from the media spotlight.
Born on 11 December 1967, in Bath, England, Tabb moved to Scotland with her family when she was three years old. She studied chemistry, biology, and psychology at the University of Glasgow, dropping out before receiving a degree.
Before becoming a full-time professional referee, she worked as a sales representative for a number of blue-chip companies. She was also a sales representative for the Ann Summers lingerie retailer.
Tabb resides in Dunfermline, Scotland, with her husband, pool player Ross McInnes, whom she met while they were playing on the men's and women's Scottish pool teams. They have two sons, Morgan and Preston, both of whom play competitive pool; Morgan McInnes has played on Scotland's under-23 A team at the European Pool Championships.
In July 2018, Tabb and her family established Blackball Tables, distributing pool tables and accessories. After running the business from their home for five years, they opened a store, On Cue World, in Rosyth in 2024.
Net Worth and Salary
Michaela Tabb's successful career as a professional snooker referee has resulted in substantial earnings. As of 2025, her estimated net worth is around $1 million. This figure is attributed to her refereeing fees, participation in major tournaments, and endorsements related to the sport. Although specific salary figures are often undisclosed, Michaela’s expertise and experience command a competitive remuneration in the industry.
On 23 January 2002, Tabb became the first woman to referee at a professional ranking snooker tournament when she took charge of a first-round match between Ken Doherty and James Wattana at the 2002 Welsh Open in Newport.
In 2003, she made her World Snooker Championship debut at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, refereeing a first-round match between Mark King and Drew Henry. In July 2003, dwindling sponsorship revenue forced the WPBSA to cut its tournament referees from ten to eight.
Tabb's contract, along with that of Dutch referee Johan Oomen, was terminated on a last-in, first-out basis, threatening her future in the sport. However, the WPBSA soon reversed its decision to dismiss Tabb and she signed a new contract in September 2003, along with Oomen.
Career, Business and Investments
Michaela Tabb's career spans several decades, with highlights that include officiating in the World Snooker Championship and numerous other high-profile events. Recognized for her impartiality and professionalism, she broke barriers in a male-dominated field, paving the way for future female referees in snooker and other sports. Beyond refereeing, Michaela has explored various business ventures associated with sports, including coaching and mentoring young referees. She is also known to speak at sports seminars, sharing her experiences and insights.
On 19 March 2015, World Snooker Ltd announced that Tabb had left the professional refereeing circuit. In September 2015, appearing under her married name of Michaela McInnes, Tabb brought an Employment Tribunal against World Snooker Ltd, claiming sexual discrimination, unfair dismissal and breach of contract.
World Snooker Ltd made an undisclosed out-of-court financial settlement. After leaving the main professional circuit, Tabb continued to referee World Seniors Tour events, including the World Seniors Championship finals in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2025.
On 11 May 2025, after refereeing the first session of the 2025 World Seniors Championship final, Tabb retired from refereeing standard snooker events, bringing to an end a 24-year career.
Social Network
Michaela Tabb maintains a presence on social media platforms, where she connects with fans and fellow snooker enthusiasts. Her accounts often feature updates about her career, insights into the snooker world, and glimpses into her life away from the spotlight. Follow her on:
Michaela Tabb (born 11 December 1967) is a British snooker and pool referee. She established significant milestones for female officials in professional cue sports, beginning in pool, where she officiated at top tournaments such as the WPA World Nine-ball Championship and the Mosconi Cup.
She qualified in 2001 to referee on the World Snooker Tour and was the sport's highest profile female referee for the next 14 years. She became the first woman to officiate at a professional ranking snooker tournament at the 2002 Welsh Open, and the first woman to referee a ranking tournament final at the 2007 Welsh Open.
She was the first woman to referee the World Snooker Championship final, which she did twice, in 2009 and 2012. She remained the only woman to referee the World final until Desislava Bozhilova did so in the 2025 event.
Education
Although details on Michaela Tabb's educational background are limited, it is evident that her deep understanding of the game stems from years of experience and dedication. She has advocated for the importance of education in sports, particularly for aspiring referees, emphasizing that knowledge is key to success in the competitive world of snooker.
Stating that he wanted to change the dowdy, all-male image of snooker referees, Jim McKenzie, then chief executive of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, recruited Tabb to referee snooker events in 2001.
Exempted from the customary five-year refereeing apprenticeship, she qualified as a Class 3 snooker referee in September 2001. She conceded that this fast-tracking generated resentment among her fellow officials and referees.
