‘Get back to the kids’ – Snooker star savaged by referee wife after being dumped out of World Grand Prix
SNOOKER star Ben Woollaston has revealed the brutal message his wife sent him after his World Grand Prix exit.
The world No44 was narrowly beaten 4-3 by Shaun Murphy in the first round of the event in Hong Kong last month.
Woollaston made the dash to Asia at the last minute after being given a spot following Stephen Maguire’s withdrawal due to medical reasons.
The 37-year-old found out at 7am in the morning that he had the chance to compete in the World Grand Prix.
He quickly dropped his two kids Edward and Henry off at his mum’s house and rushed from his home in Leicester to Heathrow Airport.
Woollaston just about made the only flight to Hong Kong that would ensure he arrived on time for his game against Murphy.
The cueist claimed he did not get a wink of sleep before his match but there was little sympathy from his wife Tatiana, who is a snooker referee.
Woollaston told the Talking Snooker Podcast: “I was in Hong Kong for 22 hours, and I flew for 26 hours.
“When I lost, Tatiana said: ‘You better get back to the kids.’
“She was there an extra two days, so I thought maybe I could stay.
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“But it wasn’t fair on my mum because I left her within 15 minutes and just said, ‘I’m off.’ So I thought I better get back.”
Tatiana responded to her husband’s podcast comments on social media, hilariously writing: “I am really kind, am I not?!”
The couple, who have been married for nearly 14 years, met at the 2010 Paul Hunter Classic event.
Belarusian-born Tatiana took charge of the UK Championship final last year, which was won by Judd Trump.