11 curiosities about Snooker

A few months ago we talked about billiard curiosities in general and today is the turn for Snooker in particular. In the post of this week we are going to review some curious data of the English modality par excellence. Let's go there with anecdotes!

1. Who and when invented the Snooker?

British people in India. Specifically, members of the Army back in 1875. They played in different ways and ended up creating their own, the Snooker. Joe Davis was one of the great promoters of the sport in the early twentieth century.

2. The Absolute Dominion of Joe Davis

From 1927 to 1946, no one was able to win Joe Davis, who took 15 world championships in a row. A withdrawal in time is a victory, so after winning the 15 he stopped playing the official competition.

 3. Have you ever played Snooker with 15 red balls and 6 colored balls?

The normal thing is to play with that number of balls, but in the 1940s they played only with three reds.

4. What did Ronnie do after making the fastest 147 fastest in history?

In 1997 Ronnie O'Sullivan made history after completing the Maximum Break in just 5 minutes and 20 seconds. It was in the first round of the World Championship, on the Crucible. What many people do not know is that after that gestation the rocket lost his next game against the Welshman Darren Morgan, 13-12.

5. And the slowest Maximum Break?

Fergal O'Brien is honored to have completed the slowest 147 in history: it took 17 minutes 42 seconds. Curiously, it is the last Maximum Break achieved in official competition and took place in February this year in the Championship League.

6. Only two left-handers have won the World Championship

Mark Williams and Neil Robertson are the only left-handers who have managed to raise the World Champion Cup.

7. The Curse of the Crucible

Since the World Championship moved to Sheffield in 1977, no champion has been able to retain the title (and many have fallen in the first round). It is the curse of the Crucible ("The Crucible Curse") the next year of winning.

8. The player who has received the most Maximum Breaks is ...

Jimmy White. Kirk Stevens in the 1984 Masters, Cliff Thorburn in Matchroom League 1989, Stephen Hendry in the 1995 World Championship and John Higgins in the 2000 Irish Masters.

9. Is it possible to enter a red one in the service?

Very difficult, but possible. It proved Barry Hawkins in the last World Championship.

10. Is it true that Snooker is the most noble and clean billiards?

Certainly, yes. Fair play is above all, here's a good example: Neil Robertson reminds Ronnie O'Sullivan (min 6:37) that if he commits the third foul he will lose the frame.

11. Snooker is the only billiard mode in which you can bet on the Internet

Indeed. It is another curiosity of this sport, that does not exist in other modalities of billiards. You can bet on your favorite Snooker player in real time, and in tournaments as important as the Master of Augusta or the World Championship.

What did you think of the 11 anecdotes? Share other interesting snooker data in the comments!