Why did new World Snooker Championship final referee Rob Spencer refuse to clean the white ball at Crucible? - 'It's an unwritten rule'

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Rob Spencer is set to follow in the footsteps of iconic match officials John Williams, Len Ganley, John Street and Jan Verhaas as referee of the 50th World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible in Sheffield. Spencer's biggest match to date was the 2023 UK Championship final between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Junhui in York. "It is a massive personal achievement," the Stockport man said.

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Rob Spencer will become only the 19th official in the modern history of the professional game to take charge of snooker's biggest match in Sheffield.

The Stockport County fan - who has been a referee on the main circuit since 2013 - was announced as the match official for the two-day World Championship final on Sunday, May 3 and Monday, May 4.

Spencer's previous biggest engagement was the 2023 UK Championship final at the York Barbican when Ronnie O'Sullivan defeated Ding Junhui 10-7 to claim a record-extending eighth title.

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With the Crucible playing host to the game's greatest potters for a 50th straight year, it will be a landmark occasion for Spencer and the sport, live on TNT Sports.

"It is a massive personal achievement," Spencer said on World Snooker Tour. "Anything you do, you always strive to get to the top.

"The World Championship final is always the top refereeing match. When you start, it is a dream. You don’t expect to do it, as that would be like a footballer saying they want to play in the Premier League the first time they kick a ball.

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"It is what you aspire towards.

"You always have nerves around every single match, which is a good thing. Anybody who says they aren’t nervous, I don’t believe them.

"There is adrenaline building before you go out there. It will be the realisation that I’ve achieved it, and it won’t seem real until I’m stood there and announced into the arena.

"That is when it will become reality. I can't wait."

Welshman John Williams continues to hold the record for world finals, overseeing 11 between 1975 and 2002, including nine at the Crucible and the iconic 'black-ball final' between Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor in 1985.

Dutch favourite Jan Verhaas officiated six title matches between 2003 and 2017, with John Street in charge of five between 1980 and 1995.

Northern Irishman Len Ganley oversaw four between 1983 and 1993, as did Paul Collier (2004-2024) and Eirian Williams (2001-2010).

Irishman John Smyth was the referee for the inaugural world final at the Crucible when John Spencer defeated Cliff Thorburn 25-21 in 1977.

"I first came across snooker at 13 years of age," said Spencer.

"My friend and I walked into a snooker club in Stockport, and it was like going through to Narnia in the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. It was like this magical place.

"It was full of all these people playing this game. We just sat in there and watched, then went back the next week to have a game ourselves.

"I fell in love with the sport there and then."

Spencer is already part of Crucible history.

He was referee for the tournament's longest frame, with the 22nd frame of Yan Bingtao's epic 13-10 win over defending champion Mark Selby in 2022, running for a marathon 85 minutes and 22 seconds.

Former police officer Spencer also famously laid down the law to former Masters champion Yan during the gruelling second-round battle.

With Yan leading Selby 10-7, Spencer refused Yan's request to clean the white ball as he worked out if he could bend the cue ball beyond the blue to pot the final brown.

After studying the shot for over three minutes, Yan attracted plenty of derision for turning to Spencer with Selby left shaking his head in disbelief as Yan indulged in some gamesmanship.

"That’s out of order, really," David Hendon said on commentary. "There’s no chance of Rob Spencer succumbing to that request."

Six-time world finalist Jimmy White praised Spencer's handling of the situation.

"It's an unwritten rule amongst snooker players," said White on TNT Sports.

"Fair play, Rob Spencer has stood his ground and said no. He could put it back slightly wrong and Bingtao then could have an easy shot.

"It is something you don't do. It might have been Bingtao being under pressure and thinking of anything to win, but you don't do that in snooker."

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World Championship final referees

1977: John Smyth
1978: John Williams
1979: John Williams
1980: John Street
1981: John Williams
1982: John Smyth
1983: Len Ganley
1984: Jim Thorpe
1985: John Williams
1986: John Street
1987: Len Ganley
1988: John Williams
1989: John Street
1990: Len Ganley
1991: John Williams
1992: John Street
1993: Len Ganley
1994: John Williams
1995: John Street
1996: John Williams
1997: Alan Chamberlain
1998: Lawrie Annandale
1999: Colin Brinded
2000: John Newton
2001: Eirian Williams
2002: John Williams
2003: Jan Verhaas
2004: Paul Collier
2005: Eirian Williams
2006: Jan Verhaas
2007: Eirian Williams
2008: Jan Verhaas
2009: Michaela Tabb
2010: Eirian Williams
2011: Jan Verhaas
2012: Michaela Tabb
2013: Jan Verhaas
2014: Brendan Moore
2015: Olivier Marteel
2016: Paul Collier
2017: Jan Verhaas
2018: Brendan Moore
2019: Leo Scullion
2020: Marcel Eckardt
2021: Paul Collier
2022: Olivier Marteel
2023: Brendan Moore
2024: Paul Collier
2025: Desislava Bozhilova
2026: Rob Spencer

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