Sport

"I felt like a child in a toy shop"

The final at the Snooker World Championships in Sheffield was refereed by... a West-Fleming, 45-year-old Olivier Marteel (45). "It was a big honour and a privilege as a small Belgian", he told the VRT sports desk Sporza. There was more: Marteel allowed an unusual toilet break for Stuart Bingham, who would become the new World Champion.
Michaël Torfs
2015 Getty Images
Olivier Marteel checks whether Stuart Bingham is not violating any rules.

Olivier Marteel was the first Belgian ever to have the honour of refereeing the most important snooker clash of the year. Marteel had been appointed referee for the final at the legendary Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, a fight between Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham that eventually saw Bingham take the cup.

"It was great! I felt like a boy in a toy shop. It's a dream come true. I never imagined I would referee a big final in the professional world of snooker. It was a big honour and a privilege as a modest Belgian." 

Bingham and Murphy played a tense final. The 31st frame at 15-all took 63 minutes. "This is quite exceptional in modern professional snooker." Marteel received a particular request from the later winner Stuart Bingham during that frame. "He said he really had to go to the toilet and asked for my permission. I told him 'Of course you can'. It's better to go than to do it on the snooker table", Marteel smiles. 

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