Olivier Marteel
Olivier Marteel (born 10 May 1969)[1] is a Belgian professional snooker referee who officiates on the World Snooker Tour.
Career
Born in Nieuwpoort, he now lives in Gijverinkhove.[2] He first qualified as a referee in 1994 and began refereeing on the main professional tour in 2006.[2] He took charge of his first World Snooker Championship final in 2015, becoming the first Belgian to referee a world final, and the second referee from continental Europe to do so, after Jan Verhaas.[3] Marteel refereed his second world final in 2022.[2][4]
A frontline healthcare worker,[5] he worked as a nurse in Belgium during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite being trained as a radiologist.[6][7] In addition to the World Championships, Marteel has officiated the Masters final twice, in 2016 and 2018, and the UK Championship final twice, in 2016 and 2020.[8] He also plays snooker and has achieved highest breaks of 133 in practice and 78 in competition.[2]
References
- ^ "Olivier Marteel - World Snooker". 2020-01-11. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 2022-04-13.
- ^ a b c d "Olivier Marteel - World Snooker". World Snooker. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "Marteel To Referee World Final - World Snooker". World Snooker. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "Marteel To Take Charge Of World Final - WPBSA". WPBSA. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "How a referee is helping to fight coronavirus on frontline in Belgium". The Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "How snooker ref joined frontline fight against Covid". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "Snooker referee Olivier Marteel is on hospital frontline in Belgium". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 April 2022.
- ^ "Triple Crown Final Referees - World Snooker". World Snooker. Retrieved 13 April 2022.