Referee Desislava Bozhilova is set to realise a ‘dream’ when she takes the reins at the World Snooker Championship final, etching her name in history as only the second female ever to preside over the Crucible’s grand finale.
At just 32, Bozhilova has come a long way since making her World Snooker Tour bow in 2012. A lifelong fan of cue sports, she’s fast approaching the pinnacle of refereeing success, having already made her mark at the legendary Crucible with a semi-final under her belt. But, it’s 2025 that’s marked for her ultimate career highlight – completing her Triple Crown of finals in Sheffield. Express Sport gives you a glimpse into the Bulgarian ref’s life beyond the baize – her passion for baking – and recollections of a fiery encounter with none other than snooker titan Ronnie O’Sullivan, culminating in her reflections on an impending final ‘dream’ fulfilled.
Ronnie O’Sullivan exchange
It was during O’Sullivan’s Crucible quarter-final tussle against Stuart Bingham last year that a moment of contention arose. The Rocket wasn’t pleased with how Bozhilova had respotted a black, opting out of a red in the decisive 12th frame.
Tension mounted as the match approached its zenith, the players locked at 10 frames each. Just as the crowd started refilling the seats amidst the other match’s break – Kyren Wilson versus John Higgins – O’Sullivan retreated to his chair through the rising murmur.
It was at this juncture that Bozhilova addressed the incoming spectators, insisting: “Would you take your seats quickly, and then hold the door closed for a minute.” When the official beckoned The Rocket back to the table, he declined, disturbed by the crowd’s noise. To this, Bozhilova retorted: “But we might wait 20 minutes.”
O’Sullivan shot back with a quip: “It’s not 20 minutes. Just chill, chill.” The referee’s reply came: “I’m chilled.” This icy exchange didn’t help O’Sullivan in the match, but it did lead him to pot the red ball positioned in the top-right corner. However, he would lose 13-10 to his opponent Bingham, shattering his dreams of an eighth Crucible title.
Passion for baking
Bozhilova is not just an exceptional referee; she also has a passion for baking. Holding a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture, she is a skilled cake-maker and often showcases her creations on social media.
Her Instagram page is a colourful array of intricate baked designs, featuring everything from Christmas trees and unicorns to snooker balls, much to the delight of her 37,000 followers.
The 32-year-old Bulgarian, who played pool and snooker in her youth, swapped her cue for white gloves in 2012 when she passed her exam to become an international referee. That same year, she made her World Snooker Tour debut
Crucible ‘dream’
Upon learning she would be only the second woman to officiate a Crucible final, following in the footsteps of pioneer Michaela Tabb in 2009 and 2012, Bozhilova confessed that this honour was indeed a ‘dream’ come trueIn an elated statement to World Snooker, the referee expressed her enthusiasm: “I am really excited, it was an amazing feeling when I was given the news. 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,” she joyously concluded.
