Toms: Move over Jan Verhaas

CUESTARS referee Steve Toms said it was a “great honour” to officiate a charity exhibition night with Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Five-time World Champion O’Sullivan played and beat eight local players, including Gold Tour champion Mark Lloyd, during a fun-packed evening at Gosport Pool Arena.

BBC commentator John Virgo was behind the microphone and performed a few trick shots along with his world famous impersonations.

“It was a great honour to referee one of the greats in our game,” said Toms.

“There was about 170 people watching and I wasn’t nervous at all, not even when I met him as he was very chatty and a gentleman with it.”

The Rocket knocked in a couple of centuries and missed the 14th red on 104.

“It would have been a dream to referee a 147 but it was not to be,” added Toms. “But it was still a night that I won’t forget in a very long time.

“I did say to myself that I could get used to this. When you referee these top-rated players, you think to yourself that you could do this for a living and I don’t think that I would feel out of place rubbing shoulders with the elite.

“Move over Jan Verhaas!” he laughed.

The event was in aid of Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity which helps children who have lost a parent while serving in the British Armed Forces.

Toms’ next engagement is refereeing world number 37 Mark Davis during the Cuestars finals day at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon, on Sunday.

Picture: Ronnie O’Sullivan (left) and Steve Toms

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Tim Dunkley (World Snooker coach)