World Championship 2025: Desislava Bozhilova looking to inspire next generation of women snooker players and referees after taking charge of final
By Alex Livie
Published 04/05/2025 at 18:37 GMT+1
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Desislava Bozhilova is front and centre at the World Championship, as she was given the role of referee for the final between Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong. It was a historic moment as she became the first woman to take charge of all three of snooker's Triple Crown finals. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.
'I believe from now on there will be more girls coming' - Bozhilova looking to be inspiration
Video credit: TNT Sports
Desislava Bozhilova is hopeful that her rise to the top of the sport by refereeing the World Championship final will inspire more women to follow in her footsteps.
The Bulgarian became the first woman to referee all three of snooker’s Triple Crown events when taking charge of the Crucible final between Mark Williams and Zhao Xintong.
Bozhilova told TNT Sports when taking charge of the final of the Masters in 2022 that she and other women referees had broken the glass ceiling, with ability to do the job being the key factor.
She has continued to take charge of events at the highest level, and her reward for consistency was the World Championship final.
"It is the biggest occasion you can have," Bozhilova told TNT Sports. "It is a ref’s dream, it is the world final here in the Crucible and it is an amazing atmosphere, so I am really excited."
Bozhilova always had an interest in cue sports, and turned her attention from pool to snooker after moving to the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.
"I first started with pool, playing American Pool and 9 Ball, and watching snooker on TV, because where I grew up we did not have any snooker," the official said. "I then moved to Sofia and found out we had a snooker association, and I applied to become a ref."
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Michaela Tabb was the first woman to take charge of a World Championship final in 2009, and Bozhilova is looking to be an inspiration for others like the British referee was for her.
Asked who inspired her to take up the sport, Bozhilova said "Michaela Tabb being the first woman to referee a world final, and now we are quite a few girls who are doing alright.
"I believe from now on there will be more girls coming over."
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Bozhilova says she has received a lot of attention in her home country and hopes it translates into more snooker players and officials.
She said: "The sport is developing really fast in Bulgaria, and with me having the final I have had so many interviews and interest at home, so I believe now there will be even more kids signing up to play."
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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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