Get to Know Snooker: A Gentleman’s Game From the UK
Snooker is a cue sport requiring skill, precision, and strategic thinking. Its tale dates back to the late 19th century, when it was mainly played in the U.K. and the British-ruled India. It caught on in the early 1960s and eventually spread overseas.
Snooker was referred to as a gentleman’s game in the early 20th century due to its popularity among royalties. Although the game is now widely played by people of all classes, the aura of exclusivity surrounding snooker never ceases. In a way, you can call it a VIP game.
Snooker is a popular sport among celebrities and high-profile individuals. On top of that, many snooker tournaments, including the World Snooker Tournament, offer VIP packages. These packages usually offer exclusive access to the event, such as premium seating close to the game table, food and drinks, and meet-and-greets with the players.
However, snooker is not VIP because it is exclusive or inaccessible to the general public. Anyone can play snooker, regardless of their social status or financial means. Snooker clubs can be found worldwide, and many of them are open to the public.
How to Play Snooker
Snooker is a game of skill, strategy, and hand-eye coordination. Players must be patient, think ahead, and use the table and ball positions to their advantage.
There are many different types of shots in snooker, such as screw shots, stun shots, and positional plays. Mastering these shots can leverage a player’s success at the highest level.
The goal of snooker is to hit the white cue ball and hit other colored balls into pockets on a table. Like its siblings, billiards and pool, you can score points by potting balls or when your opponent makes a foul.
Snooker is played with 21 balls: 15 red, six colored, and one white cue ball. There is an order to pot the colored balls. Players must pot a red ball first, followed by a colored ball, then another red ball, and so on, until all of the red balls have been pocketed. If a player fails to pot the correct ball, their turn ends.
Snooker in The US
Although snooker is widely played worldwide, it isn’t exactly a famous sport in North America, especially the U.S. Pool is arguably more well-known in the country, but even pool is not included in the top 10 games in the country.
One of the main reasons is that it faces stiff competition from other sports. American football, baseball, and basketball are the top sports in the country, and U.S. fans are incredibly passionate about them.
However, its biggest problem might lie in its perception. In an interview, English promoter Barry Hearn mentioned that Americans prefer the “crash, bang, wallop” of faster-paced sports with a quick result.
Although American players have limited success in international tournaments, with Jim Rempe being the highest-ranked American at 101st during 1987-88, snooker still has its audience in the U.S. Some enjoy the United States National Snooker Championship, while others keep up with the international stages.
Fans staying home can also join the fun by betting on snooker on Sportsbet.io. They can place their wagers as the game progresses using fiat and cryptocurrencies. Bettors can try their luck on the tournament winner, match winner, correct score, over/under markets, and many more.
