Snooker

Snooker is a cue sport that originated among British Army officers stationed in India in the latter half of the 19th century. It is played on a rectangular table covered with a green cloth called baize, with pockets at each of the four corners and in the middle of each long side. The game is played with a cue and snooker balls: one white cue ball, 15 red balls, and six balls of different colors and values.

History

Snooker was invented in 1875 by Sir Neville Chamberlain, a British Army officer stationed in Jabalpur, India. The game evolved from billiards and pool, incorporating elements from both. The name "snooker" was a derogatory term used to describe inexperienced or first-year military personnel, and it was adopted for the game due to the novice nature of its early players.

Rules

The objective of snooker is to score more points than the opponent by potting the balls in a predefined order. A frame of snooker begins with the 15 red balls placed in a triangle formation, and the six colored balls placed on their designated spots. Players take turns to pot a red ball followed by a colored ball, continuing this sequence until all reds are potted. The colored balls are then potted in order of their value: yellow (2 points), green (3 points), brown (4 points), blue (5 points), pink (6 points), and black (7 points).

Fouls

Fouls in snooker can occur in several ways, such as failing to hit the correct ball, potting the cue ball, or potting a ball out of sequence. When a foul is committed, the opponent is awarded points, and the player committing the foul may lose their turn.

Equipment

A standard snooker table is 12 feet by 6 feet, with a playing surface made of slate covered with baize. The cue is typically made of wood and is used to strike the cue ball. Snooker balls are made of phenolic resin and are smaller than those used in pool.

Professional Snooker

The professional snooker circuit is governed by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). The most prestigious tournament is the World Snooker Championship, held annually at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England. Other major tournaments include the UK Championship and the Masters.

Notable Players

Some of the most famous snooker players include Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, and Alex Higgins. These players have contributed significantly to the popularity and development of the sport.

Also see

• Billiards
• Pool (cue sports)
• World Snooker Championship
• Ronnie O'Sullivan