A top snooker referee is barred from taking charge of one player's matches at the UK Championship - because she is married to him. Belarus-born Tatiana Woollaston, 38, will be one of the officials on duty at the first Triple Crown event of the season, which begins on Saturday.

Another Woollaston will also be involved at the York Barbican, her husband Ben, who booked his place in the 32-player showpiece by coming through qualifying earlier this week. He is now looking forward to a first-round clash with three-time UK champion John Higgins on Saturday night. However, there is no chance of Tatiana taking charge of the match. She told the Mirror ahead of last year's UK Championship that they try to keep their respective snooker careers as separate as possible.

She said: “He’s on the

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