A precision cue sport played on a large green table with 22 balls, where players pot reds and colours in a strict sequence.
Origin and rules
Snooker was invented in 1875 by British Army officers stationed in Jabalpur, India, who mixed billiards and pyramid pool. The World Snooker Championship has been held since 1927, and the WPBSA was founded in 1968 to govern the professional game.
How it plays
Players take turns potting balls. A red ball is potted first (worth one), then a colour (two to seven), in alternation until all reds are gone. Then the colours are potted in ascending value. A break is the score in a single visit, with 147 the maximum.
Competition
The World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield is the marquee event. The UK Championship and the Masters complete the Triple Crown. England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, China, and Hong Kong dominate. Snooker is not on the Olympic programme.
Find more sports by letter
Snooker starts with S and ends with R. Browse other sports along the same letter.
Sports that contain a letter from "Snooker":