Snooker did not start in the UK, though many think it did. It was born far away in India back in the 1800s. British army men, while far from home, made up games to pass the time. One of those games was Snooker, which grew from cue games like black pool and Pyramid Pool. The men mixed parts of each game to form one that had more steps and skill.
The name ‘snooker’ was slang at first, and meant a new army man who had not seen action yet. A colonel used the word to tease a young player for his bad shots. Soon, all who played the game began to call it snooker. The name spread as the game moved from army clubs to pubs, then to halls across the UK.
Rules set in stone
The game was wild at first and no one had set rules. Each hall had its way of playing. But that changed in 1882 when Captain Sir Neville Chamberlain, a British general in British India, wrote the rules and made the game fair and smooth.
Snooker has 21 balls plus one cue ball. The reds are worth one point each, and the colours range from two to seven. To score more than your foe by potting balls in the right order.
Smoke, suits, and hushed crowds
Snooker grew in halls filled with smoke and suits. Men sat with pints, not phones. There were no big lights or loud fans. The game was slow but tense. Each shot held weight. The crowds were hushed, out of deep respect. A miss could cost a frame or the whole match.
By the 1900s, snooker had a strong grip on Britain. Tournaments popped up. Clubs made space just for snooker but it was still a game for the few. It was seen as smart, calm, and hard to master, so not all were drawn to it.
The game hits the big screen
All that changed in the 1960s and 70s when snooker found the TV. Black-and-white clips could not show all the colours, but it still wowed the viewers. But came colour TV and snooker fit the screen like it was made for it.
The 1985 World Final made it clear with over 18 million watched Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis in the last frame, in the last black ball. The match went on past midnight, yet no one dared look away. That night made snooker a sport for the crowd.
Legends of the table
With fame came stars. Names like Alex Higgins, Ronnie O’Sullivan, and Stephen Hendry still ring loud, each having their own style. Higgins played with fire, while Hendry was cold and sharp. O’Sullivan? A mix of both. He made the hard look easy, and his breaks left fans gasping.
A game that keeps on rolling
Now, snooker is a world sport. China, India, and Iran have top players. The game has also moved with the times, so fans now watch on phones. Clips of crazy shots go viral. Yet the heart of the game stays the same.
Snooker has its ups and downs. Some say it’s too slow for the young while others say that’s what makes it grand. It’s not a race, it’s a slow dance that gives you time to think, plan, and strike when the time is right.
Why snooker still matters
Snooker is more than balls and cues, it’s a test of the mind. It shows how cool heads win the day, and teaches trust, grace, and grit. One bad shot does not mean the game is done. You’ll keep going, learn, and grow. Next time you see a green table, don’t walk past. Pick up a cue, line up your shot, and step into a game that’s been loved for more than 100 years.
Explore more about snooker and predict upcoming match results right here: https://sportsbet.io/sports/snooker/matches/future
