Theo Selbertinger

SelbertingerName: Theo Selbertinger

DOB: 21st February 1989

Nationality: German

First Pro Match: 2010 Paul Hunter Classic

First televised match: 2009 6 Red World Championship, (Stephen Hendry v Marcus Campbell)

Career Highlights: Officiating the 2010 Paul Hunter Classic final at his first pro tournament, quarter-finals at the 2012 and 2014 German Masters, officiating at the 2014 World Championship qualifiers

Snooker Ambitions: To establish himself on the main tour

Career Summary

Germany’s Theo Selbertinger first became interested in snooker as a child having seen the sport on television and wanting to learn more about it, searched on Google to look for the official rulebook.

Having studied the laws of the game in depth, Theo soon found himself on the school bus explaining certain situations to his friends and as he grew older, began to play the game in a local club.

As is a common story with snooker referees however, Theo realised that he did not have the talent required to make it in the game as a player, but wanting to get closer to the sport, decided to pursue a refereeing career.

Selbertinger1

Photo courtesy of Christian Hauburg

Since then, he has gone on to officiate at both European Tour and full-ranking events, most notably quarter-final matches at the German Masters events in both 2012 and 2014. Theo was also involved at the 2014 World Championship qualifiers, taking charge of the memorable encounter between Jamie Jones and Joel Walker, when Jamie came back from 9-4 down to win 10-9 to qualify for the next round.

Away from the baize, Theo’s interests include car tuning, basketball and home cinema.

Theo wishes to thank Ralph Müller, who kept his interest in snooker alive when he had a rough time previously, as well as Bernie Mickeleit, who was the examiner of the very first refereeing seminar he participated and has supported him a lot ever since.