Snooker Match - Frame 2

Why not? That's the size it always has been. Why's a pool table so small? A bigger table (and smaller pockets) increases the skill, and reduces the effectiveness of the pool tactic of smashing the balls open and fluking one, to an extent where it isn't tried at all. Because in the 1 in 100 chance you pot a red, the 99 in 100 chance will give your opponent the chance to win the frame as all the balls are open and everywhere.

But it's harder to fit in a basement.

Absolutely! Often players play in snooker halls (the same as pool halls, but with snooker tables in them, funnily enough). There is one good story involving Stephen Maguire, who reached the World Semi Finals this season. His grandfather knocked down walls in his house and reconstructed it all so that a snooker table could be fitted in to allow him to practice more often (and cheaper in the long run than popping down the local snooker hall). It is quite expensive though, to pay for it to be fitted, and even to have a room big enough. Most players go to snooker halls, there is usually one in every town. I can think of about 3 just in the few square miles around where I live. They tend to have teams for their members, and there are big local leagues for them. The added benefit of going to a snooker hall - you can easily grab an opponent, or go with friends. Sorted.

The WPBSA (the people in charge of the professional game) and the IBSF (the people in charge of the amateur game) insist on it. You must wear shirt and tie (unless you have a skin condition), waistcoat, and trousers and shoes like that. It is part of the tradition of the game that dates back to 18th century billiards matches, when games were traditionally held by the upper-class at parties (billiards that is, snooker was a later invention). The initial snooker players specialised at billiards until Walter Lindrum killed off billiards by being too good at it though, so everyone converted to snooker after the war. But the tradition of the smart attire continued. In short, yes the rules say so. And amateurly. But not if you play a frame in a club/hall.

I don't know if this could go over well in the states. Have you seen the types of folks that hustle in our pool halls? They'd have to allow players to wear baggier fitting clothing and bling. How do people bet on Snooker?

The fans bet in a bookmakers. The players don't put wages on games at professional level. They don't need too, the winner of the 2008 World Championship will win £250,000 ($500,000). Even a solid pro will make about that in a season with money in sponsorship, tournament earnings for lesser placings, exhibitions etc.

And snooker does exist in the USA. The 2007 United States National Snooker Championship happened last week (albeit most of the players have non-American ancestry). It just has no media coverage, I'll bet.

They applaud when there's a good shot, or when they work out a player has mathematically won the frame. A "good shot" is considered to be a long shot (i.e. from baulk, where the yellow to green are), a shot with the rest (which you see in the second video), any shot into the cluster of reds which leaves them on a red (see Vid 2 with 6:25 to go). It's not necessarily potting the highest value colour either. The aim is to get on the next red, whatever colour you have to take (to continue the break). It's pointless playing on the black if you can't get on the subsequent red.

Thank you for the explaination, Alex. Also, I guess I should have written "applaud" instead of, "clap" you cheeky British bastard. You think you're better than me? Yeah, I say "what" instead of, "pardon" as well...

I don't think I'm better than you at all. I just like using long words. I'm quite happy to explain the game.

Just kidding, Alex. This is a fascinating sport - it very well could become more popular in the states as Nascar begins to wane. We would just need to find a way to visually market products - perhaps by putting advertisments all over the players' uniforms.

There sort of is now. The waistcoats sport advertising of some sort already.