Paul Collier (snooker referee)
| Born | 30 July 1970 Newport, Wales |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  Wales |
| Professional | 1992–2024 |
Paul Collier (born 30 July 1970, in Newport, Wales) is a Welsh retired snooker referee who has overseen four World Snooker Championship finals. In 2024 he retired from refereeing to focus on his role as a tournament director.
Career
[edit]Born in Newport, South Wales,[1][2] Collier began refereeing on the professional snooker circuit in 1992.[3] In 2004, he took charge of the World Snooker Championship final between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Graeme Dott where he also became the youngest referee to take charge of a world championship final.[3]
Eighteen months after the 2004 final, in 2005, Collier quit the main tour, citing the lack of financial rewards in his profession. With only five ranking snooker events, he was no longer enjoying the tour.[4] He was persuaded by Barry Hearn to re-join the main professional tour in 2011, with the additional opportunity to work as a Tournament Director.[4]
In 2016, he refereed the final of the 2016 World Snooker Championship between Mark Selby and Ding Junhui.[5] In 2021, he took charge of his third Crucible final during the 2021 World Snooker Championship.[6][4][3] He returned to referee his fourth and last final in 2024, after which he retired as a snooker referee, to focus on his role as a tournament director.[7][8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Paul Collier". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ "Paul Collier". World Snooker. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "Collier to referee world final". Sporting Life. 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ a b c "Paul's on top of the world with second Crucible final". South Wales Argus. 23 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- ^ "Paul Collier To Referee World Final". World Snooker. 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
- ^ "Collier to take charge of third Crucible final". World Snooker Tour. 7 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 April 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Paul Collier to referee Crucible final". World Snooker Tour. 5 April 2024. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
- ^ Tour, World Snooker (April 5, 2024). "Paul Collier To Referee Crucible Final". World Snooker Tour.