Biography
"How many of you would love to referee Efren Reyes and be inspired by his magic and get paid for it?" Statements like this are typical from this five foot five lady referee who has found fulfillment in a job that requires her to be on her feet for hours, watching every shot a player makes, ensuring that no violation has been made during the entire match. "The hardest part of the job is we only have a split second to make a decision on a shot and this could prove to be the wrong one and it could so be proven…like in Cardiff where the World Pool Championships are played, there are 15 cameras watching every shot from every angle and they can often get a better angle or a slow motion replay, so there's a little bit of pressure there…you have to call a shot accurately. But you can't get it right all the time..."
Since joining Matchroom Sports five years ago Michaela Tabb has emerged as one of the most admired referees around, a favorite among pool event organizers for her discerning judgment and skill at officiating televised top level tournaments. When Michaela agreed to referee her first televised tournament for Matchroom, the St Andrews Cup in Glasgow, she had no idea that within the next year she would be officiating at the 1998 World Masters followed by The Mosconi Cup in London. This goes to prove that the pressure brought on by the demands of the job was not at all a factor for Michaela. In 1999 Matchroom ran the inaugural World 9 Ball Pool Championship in Cardiff - now the most prestigious tournament in the sport - and Michaela found herself officiating in this event too; this time as Matchroom Sports' Senior Referee.
Last year Michaela started refereeing Professional Snooker for World Snooker Ltd after being asked to join their new fast track program, along with other younger referees and overseas referees. "I was brought in to add the female aspect to the game and to help change their 'old' stifled image." Although she isn't the first female referee in snooker, Michaela will become the first female referee to officiate a televised ranking match during this season! The new fast track system has seen her accelerate through the ranks which has become a point of concern for the new snooker referee. "nobody has made any personal complaints, only complaints against the system which allowed me to be brought in at all. I just keep my head down and work hard. I wouldn't have accepted the job if I didn't think I was capable."
But this talented lady does not limit her involvement in cue sports to refereeing alone. Michaela also plays 8 Ball pool Internationally for the Scotland Ladies and has been doing so since 1992. She's actually considered one of the strongest contenders in the team mainly due to her 'play not to lose' attitude. In fact in the recent World Championships in the Shetland Isles she scored the top average out of the Scotland team and placed third out of all the ladies who played in the team matches. In 1998 Michaela won the European Ladies Championship and this she considers to be one of her biggest achievements…second to having her son, Morgan.
Michaela is married to Ross McInnes. They tied the knot on May 3, 2002 at the Norton House Hotel in Edinburgh following an 8-year romance. Ross incidentally plays professional pool himself, and has four World titles under his own belt! Michaela and Ross have high expectations of their son Morgan in the future of cue sports following his love of pool, predominantly 9 ball! Michaela, Ross and Morgan live in Dunfermline, Scotland.