Pool News, Updates and Exclusive Interviews
News, updates and exclusive interviews all in one place. For serious pool fans and the amateur bar player, you will find everything you need to know about your favourite aspects of pool with SportsBoom! Whether you are a novice player, a great admirer or an interested punter, SportsBoom unpacks pool and delivers it straight to you no matter your need. We breakdown unnecessarily complicated aspects into easy to read, bite size portions to ensure that the enjoyment of the game is never lost. Yes, pool is a sport and it deserves the respect it has received in recent years!
Scottish snooker star Jayson Shaw is vying to win the World Pool Championship in Saudi Arabia, aiming for the $250,000 top prize. Despite facing challenges due to a recent storm, Shaw is determined to perform well in the tournament and progress to the next round.
A Brief History of Pool
Interestingly, pool evolved from a humble lawn game – very similar to croquet – in the 15th century all over Northern Europe. Eventually the games were moved indoors (many put this down the inclement weather experienced in these regions) and played on a wooden table.
The green cloth on many pool tables is believed to have been used to replicate the grass outside and a simple border was placed around the edges.
Pool halls and bars have had an incredible impact on European culture, but many bar owners credit the inclusion of pool tables at their establishment for an extended customer experience.
The Rules of Pool
Pool is an incredibly popular game played by millions of people around the world. There are however different varieties of the game. The object of the game is to pocket designated balls (either stripes or solids) and then pocket the 8 ball.
Players are required to win as many games as needed to win a match – opting for either an attacking approach or a more measured and safer gameplan.
The equipment required for the game is essentially just the pool table, balls, cues and chalk.
The rules of pool are arguably the most debated out of any sport played professionally! There are different variations played in different countries, cities and even establishments. However, the World Pool Billiard Association has produced a set of rules which seek to standardize the rules for tournaments and ranking matches.
A couple of them include:
Before the game begins the balls are arranged randomly (except for the black eight ball) in a triangle.
Once a player pockets a ball, they then have to pocket the remaining balls of that denomination (stripes / solids)
Where a foul is committed, the opposing player is able to place the cue ball anywhere and play from there. Fouls include, failing to hit your own object ball, hitting the cue ball off the table and hitting the cue ball twice – to name a few.
Major Pool Formats
There are a variety of pool formats played, they include.
8-Ball Pool
The goal here is to pocket all of one type of ball (stripes/solids) and then the eight ball. The first player to do so wins the game. once the break is completed and the table is ‘open’ whoever pockets the first ball effectively assigns that type of ball of remainder of the game.
9-Ball Pool
The only real difference here is that you start with the number 1 ball, then the 2 and so forth until you sink the 9-ball. The person to do so wins the match. The player who is shooting must aim to hit the lowest numbered ball on the table first before attacking the 9-ball
10-Ball Pool
The objective of 10-ball is to sink a set of numbered balls in ascending order, culminating with the pocketing of the 10-ball to secure victory. The rest of the game is the same as the aforementioned formats.
Straight Pool
The most simple of the lot, straight pool asks players to pocket as many balls as possible to score points. A predetermined score would have been set and players are required to be first to reach it.
Pool Legends
These are some of the biggest names in the sport!
Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ronnie O’Sullivan is an English player best known as one of the most talented athletes in the world. Famously overcoming his various battles with drugs and depression, he reached the summit of the sport after winning his first UK Championship in 1993 and his first World Championship in 2001.
He is also an incredible pool player – making his name in both disciplines independently and becoming a name synonymous with both sports.
Efren Reyes
Known as the ‘magician’, the Filipino professional player is widely regarded as the greatest pool player of all time. He became especially famous for the skill of one-pocket discipline.
Earl Strickland
An American professional pool player who is considered one of the best 9-ball players of all time. Strickland has won over 100 championship titles and three world titles! He has even been recently inducted into the Billiard Congress of America’s Hall of Fame.
Dennis Orcollo
Dennis Orcollo is a Filipino player nicknamed “Surigao”. Orcollo is considered as one of the greats of the game – especially in Southeast Asia. He is a multiple minor winner and has dominated the Billiards championships in Asia.
The Future of Pool
The popularity of trick shots has continued to grow in the game of pool. Often misunderstood to be simply a showing off exercise, the right understanding of the shot, coupled with the right decision can often lead to many game wins. Pool allows for jump shots, and they are without question the most popular trick shot used by professional and amateur players alike!
Pool today boasts advanced equipment and international competitions – this evolution speaks to a growing audience and wider acceptance of the game as a professional sport. Whilst it will always have a place in your local pub, pool now also garners the attention of a global sporting audience.
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