I recall Rex Williams once soberly informing me that “there is no such thing as a snooker table, only billiard tables.”
Rex won the World Billiards Championship seven times so who was I to contradict him?
The point he was making, of course, is that the three-ball game predates snooker. By some distance, actually, as it is believed to have been invented in the 15th century, whereas snooker came along, and was partly derived from billiards, in the late 19th century.
Barry Hearn, the gregarious manager of Steve Davis and notable others, best summed up why billiards failed to match snooker’s appeal on TV in the 1980s.
“Not enough balls,” was his verdict.
To put it another way, billiards is a game of considerable skill. It consists of cannons, pots and in-offs and requires pinpoint accuracy.
Where it falls down as a spectacle is that the top players are simply too good. In snooker, the variances of the game mean that players miss or suffer bad luck or call on the greater retinue of shot options to make one frame different to the next.
To the untrained eye, billiards is the same thing over and over again.
There have been changes over the years and needless to say they haven’t all gone down well with traditionalists. Some of them are obvious – changing the white ball with a spot to a yellow ball.
There is also a rule about having to cross the baulkline after a set number of points to stop players playing the same few shots in a particular area of the table.
It was long before this restriction was introduced that Tom Reece compiled the highest break in the history of billiards in 1907.
Making heavy use of the anchor or ‘cradle’ cannon, Reece made a break of 499,135 over the course of five weeks.
His opponent, Joe Chapman, would arrive each day, take off his coat, sit in the non-striker’s chair and watch as Reece went further and further ahead.
Talk about soul destroying.
The first World Billiards Championship in 1825 consisted of a challenge between Edwin Kentfield and Jack Carr.
Kentfield took the title after only one game. Carr could not continue as he died shortly before they were scheduled to play the second.
Billiards is particularly strong in India, where Geet Sethi and Pankaj Advani are regarded as among the country’s top sportsman.
Snooker Scene editor Clive Everton this year won his 15th Midland amateur title a mere 46 years after he won his first.
Clive also won a billiards event in Canada in the early 1980s that had a field of variable quality. He beat Long John Baldrey’s pianist in the first round and Steve Davis in the final.
Mike Russell is the best player of the last 20 years and will be aiming for a ninth world title at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds from tomorrow until Sunday.
Professional billiards has declined to such an extent that this is now the only tournament on what can hardly be called a circuit.
The ‘B’ in WPBSA refers to billiards, which is possibly the only reason the World Championship is on at all.
There is a thriving amateur scene in England but the three-ball precursor to snooker has, sadly, been allowed to wither and almost die.
Even so, it is good to see billiards just about surviving.
The game is a link to the past. If you needed any further convincing: the quote in the headline is taken from Shakespeare’s Anthony and Cleopatra.
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All information >>> billiards
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Post-section results of the four events are below:
QUEENSLAND OPEN SNOOKER: Held 25 April - 27 April 2008 :
Last 16: G Wilkinson bt C Kovacs 3/0, V Calabrese bt D Thorp 3/1, J Minici bt A Render 3/0, P Balzer bt R Foldvari 3/0, S Dixon bt N White 3/1, A Ridley bt A Davidson (NZ) 3/1, S Lawler bt A Coe 3/0, J Younger bt H Kerde 3/0.
Quarter-finals: V Calabrese bt G Wilkinson 4/3, J Minici bt P Balzer 4/2, A Ridley bt S Dixon 4/0, S Lawler bt J Younger 4/1.
Semi-finals: V Calabrese bt J Minici 4/1, S Lawler bt A Ridley 4/2.
Final: V Calabrese bt S Lawler 5/2.
Highest Break: V Calabrese (126).
OCEANIA SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP: Held 27 April - 03 May 2008 :
Last 32: C McBreen (NZ) bt A Ridley 3/2, H Kerde bt G Gillard (NZ) 3/2, D Thorp bt C Mills 3/0, J Minici bt N White 3/0, D Lucas bt R McCallum 3/0, A Davidson (NZ) bt P de Groot (NZ) 3/1, B Jones bt R Tibbs 3/1, D Fong bt S Lawler 3/2, G Wilkinson bt C Yap 3/0, D Meier-Bailey (NZ) bt K Brown 3/1, S Dixon bt G Mares 3/1, B Hunter bt H Nenadich 3/1, T Babiak bt D Faddoul 3/1, J Younger bt P Haycock 3/2, P Balzer bt A Render 3/0, V Calabrese bt W Brown 3/1.
Last 16: C McBreen bt H Kerde 4/2, J Minici bt D Thorp 4/2, D Lucas bt A Davidson 4/2, B Jones/D Fong (F), G Wilkinson bt D Meier-Bailey 4/2, S Dixon bt B Hunter 4/3, J Younger bt T Babiak 4/1, V Calabrese bt P Balzer 4/3.
Quarter-finals: C McBreen bt J Minici 4/3, D Lucas bt D Fong 4/1, G Wilkinson bt S Dixon 4/2, V Calabrese bt J Younger 4/0.
Semi-finals: C McBreen bt D Lucas 5/3, G Wilkinson bt V Calabrese 5/3.
Final: G Wilkinson bt C McBreen 6/4.
Highest Breaks: C McBreen/V Calabrese (127).
OCEANIA WOMENS SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP: Held 27 April - 03 May 2008 :
Last 16: S Ridley bt S Patterson 2/0, K Howden bt M Hou 2/0, G John bt M Malone 2/0, M Gorski bt T Smith 2/0, K Parashis bt J Woods 2/0, S Smith bt J Cox 2/0, R Belmont (NZ) bt J Jordan 2/0, M Fullerton bt R Knight 2/0.
Quarter-finals: K Howden bt S Ridley 3/1, M Gorski bt G John 3/0, S Smith bt K Parashis 3/2, R Belmont bt M Fullerton 3/0.
Semi-finals: M Gorski bt K Howden 4/0, R Belmont bt S Smith 4/2.
Final: M Gorski bt R Belmont 4/0.
Highest Break: R Belmont (40).
OCEANIA BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP: 03 May - 05 May 2008:
Semi-finals: J Minici to play D Lucas (3 hours), P de Groot (NZ) to play G Oliver (NZ) - to be updated VERY soon.
Americano news >>> billiards
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almont pool spa billiards
Billiards is a term used to describe a family of games that are played on a table and with a cue stick. Commonly, the stick is used to strike billiard balls and move them around the table. Billiard games are played indoors and the most popular, which many people enjoy, is the game of pool.
Common pool games include 8-ball, 9-ball, straight pool and one-pocket. Pool tables are large square units that feature pockets for players to attempt sending the balls into. Previously exclusive to pool rooms, the game of pool has now become a popular household addition to many homes. Pool enthusiasts often include a pool room in their own home, which features a table, cue sticks and billiard balls. This is a terrific game for entertaining and is one of the most enjoyable games of competition that can be played indoors.
Because the game of pool is so very popular, it is used to entertain on many occasions. This article will attempt to provide a few ideas for hosting a pool tournament or competition in the comfort of your own home.
$ Pool is a terrific pastime to enjoy in the company of friends and family. Perhaps a family game of men against women or friends playing on teams against one another would make for a fun evening.
$ If you are having a family reunion or other social event, consider inviting everyone into your home for a friendly game of pool.
$ What if boys night out transformed into boys night in with a game of pool? This is a terrific way for him to have fun with his friends, but still enjoy the comforts of home.
$ If you are entering a professional pool tournament with the opportunity to win cash or other prizes, you will need to be on top of your game. Having a pool table in your home or basement may just provide you with the additional practice time and edge that you need to win out over the competition. If practice makes perfect, then you will be glad to have a pool table within your reach at any given moment.
$ Pool doesn’t have to be a competition. In fact, there is nothing wrong with practicing alone and just mastering some of your best pool moves.
Pool tables are available in a variety of sizes and are designed to fit an array of budgets. Large tables are designed for adults, but even the kiddies often love to play. For the youngsters, small pool tables are designed of sturdy plastic and feature small cue sticks and billiard balls for their enjoyment. Large tables range in price from several hundred dollars and up depending on the quality and type of table that you purchase. Children’s pool tables, on the other hand, are very inexpensive and can be found for less than $50.00. Thanks to the creative minds of toy manufacturers, pool really can be a family sport.
Top 10 >>> billiards
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Terry is the fellow behind the counter, taking an order from a customer for some darned good food.
Among my family members, we ordered and taste-tested rice flour egg rolls, Korean barbecue, meat balls on a stick, pork stick and a hamburger with french fries. Not a clunker in the bunch. My husband liked the meatballs best. My daughter thought the french fries were good. I loved the egg rolls (no wheat flour). We each had a different flavor soda, but Hot Shot also sells alcoholic beverages. Since none of us drink much, we cant judge that section of the menu.
Terry also set us up at Table #4 to bash balls around. He offered friendly advice, and never once laughed at our inept pool play.
We fed dollar bills into a juke box, which purchased credits towards songs at 50 cents a credit. The songs we picked were 1 credit each, but we saw at least a few songs for 2 credits.
Great fun was had by all, despite really bad pool skills. The food was excellent: hot, fresh, tasty and not too expensive.
Its a shame that the Cypress City Council restricted the venue to only those over 21 because it would be fun to take my high school aged kids along, too.
Terry invites everybody (over 21) over for food and fun. Stop by at lunchtime for a quick meal and a short game of pool. Relax in the evening by cracking some balls together and listening to music. There are even a couple of flat screen monitors so you can keep up with sports. Youre free to bring your own pool cue, but there are cues available in wall racks.
Hot Shot Cafe and Billiards is located at 6285 Ball Road in Cypress, between Holder and Juanita Streets, east of Valley View Street, on the north side of the road. Its open 10 am to 12 am Sunday through Thursday, 10 am to 2 am Friday and Saturday. The business phone number is 714-952-1120.
Americano news >>> billiards
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