Desislava Bozhilova
.JPG) Desislava Bozhilova at the 2023 European Masters | |
| Born | 16 October 1992 Sliven, Bulgaria |
|---|---|
| Sport country |  Bulgaria |
| Professional | 2012–present |
Desislava Vasileva Bozhilova (Bulgarian: Десислава Василева Божилова, born 16 October 1992) is a Bulgarian international snooker referee on the World Snooker Tour. Since passing the examination to become an international snooker referee, she has officiated ranking event finals as well as matches in the World Snooker Championship. She refereed her first Triple Crown final at the 2022 Masters, and the second at the 2022 UK Championship.
Early life and education
[edit]
Bozhilova was born and grew up in Sliven, Bulgaria,[1][2][3] a city that does not have many people playing snooker.[2] At the age of 13, Bozhilova began playing pool before becoming interested in snooker by watching it on television.[4] She relocated to the Bulgarian capital of Sofia in 2012.[5][6] Bozhilova holds a Master's degree in landscape architecture following her graduation from the University of Forestry, Sofia in 2016,[3][7] and produces 3D visualisations of homes between snooker competitions.[2][6]
Career
[edit]Bozhilova learnt of the existence of the Bulgarian Snooker Referees Association in 2011, which helps people to become snooker referees, and she made the decision to get involved in it.[8][9][10] She passed the examination to become an international snooker referee the following year,[3] and refereed her first professional snooker tournament at the 2012 Bulgarian Open.[10] She officiated her first ranking final at the 2016 Riga Masters,[3] and has refereed other ranking finals such as in the English Open, German Masters, and the Players Championship.
Bozhilova officiated her first Triple Crown event match during the 2016 UK Championship,[11] and made her debut at the main stages of the World Snooker Championship at the 2019 event.[3][12] She was again selected to referee at the 2020 World Championship.[13] She refereed her first Triple Crown final at the 2022 Masters,[14] and her second at the 2022 UK Championship.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Признание за българка в Англия" [Recognition for a Bulgarian woman in England] (in Bulgarian). Gong.bg. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ a b c Morgan, George (15 February 2019). "Meet one of the referees changing the face of snooker". The Cardiffian. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "Desislava Bozhilova". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Vivek, Vishal (9 July 2016). "Love and work go hand in hand for Bozhilova". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Genov, Valery (23 February 2020). "Българската дама в най-джентълменския спорт (ВИДЕО)" [The Bulgarian lady in the most gentleman's sport (Video)] (in Bulgarian). bTV Novinite. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Quiet Please!". World Snooker Tour. 20 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Дипломанти" [Graduates] (in Bulgarian). University of Forestry, Sofia. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Stoyanova, Victoria (29 June 2018). "Дĸcиcлoвo Бeжилeвo, pĸфĸp пe cнyaъp: Xpиĸx нo шĸгo, чĸ cъм нoй-cĸacи cъдийao" [Desislava Bozhilova, snooker referee: I joked that I am the sexiest judge] (in Bulgarian). bgDNES.bg. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Yaneva, Marina (14 November 2012). "Две съдийки с бели ръкавици" [Two judges in white gloves] (in Bulgarian). Jenite.bg. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Другата Красавица Сред Съдийките Десислава: Трудно Ми Е Да Осъзная, Че Това Се Случва В България" [The Other Beauty among the Judges, Desislava: It Is Difficult for Me to Realize That This Is Happening in Bulgaria] (in Bulgarian). Sporta.bg. 14 November 2012. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "Българска съдийка проби на световната снукър сцена" [Bulgarian judge tries on the world snooker scene] (in Bulgarian). Avtora. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Joseph, Martin (3 March 2019). "Woman referee Bozhilova breaking gender barrier in snooker". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ "2020 Betfred World Championship Referees". World Snooker Tour. 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
- ^ Livie, Alex (19 January 2022). "'In snooker we are equal' – Desislava Bozhilova flying high despite Ronnie O'Sullivan showing 'no mercy'". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.