Ganesh, a referee par excellence

Ganesh has officiated in many international billiards and snooker events in the last 25 years, apart from a number of Nationals. “At the age of 16, I had the fantasy to hold the cue.  

I should say it was a magical journey from a decent player to an international referee,” said the Chennai-based Ganesh. After officiating in many State and National tournaments, Ganesh got his big break in the Grand Slam World Professional Billiards Championship in  1992. 

He also officiated the Grand Slam in 1993 and 1994. Then followed the Chennai National in 1995 and the World Billiards Championship in 1996 and the ISBF World Billiards Championship in Hyderabad in 2003. 

Ganesh was appointed chief referee for the first time in the National in Chennai in 2006. His hands were full soon as he was picked for the Asian U-21 Snooker and Senior Billiards Championship at Pune and the IBSF World U-21 Championship in Goa. The IBSF World Billiards Championship at Bengaluru, IBSF World Snooker at Hyderabad and Asian U-21 and Senior Billiards at Pune came in the next two years. 

“The milestone in my career was the year 2010. That was when I started officiating overseas tournaments beginning with Asian Snooker Championship in Chantaburi at Bangkok.  I also officiated the Sangsom 6 Red World Championship in 2010 and 2011 in Bangkok where all top World professional snooker players such as Mark Selby, Mark Williams, Jimmy White and Steve Davis participated,” he noted. 

“In 2010, I was nominated from India to officiate the Asian Games at Guangzhou, China,” he remarked. He was made the technical committee in-charge for Billiards and Snooker at Incheon Korea. Asked to pick one of his memorable moments in his career, Ganesh said the World Snooker Championship final in Bengaluru in 2012 was outstanding. 

“The final lasted 11 hours and the 19th and final frame ended with the black ball decider. Soon after this, I was conferred Class I Referee of International Billiards and Snooker Federation and Gold Class Referee of Asian Confederation of Billiards Sport,” said the 55-year-old proudly. This year, he officiated in the World Billiards and Snooker Championship in Qatar and the World Billiards Championship in Bengaluru.