Snooker Games - The forgotten history of English Billiards and Snooker.

Players Games

The "Forgotten History" of English Billiards & Snooker

Players

Throughout the history of the game there have been many individuals whose
contribution made them household names. Even today people wonder how
Joe Davis would have fared against the modern players.

Yet further back in time some made a far greater contribution, and became
more than merely the greatest players of their respective generations.

John Carr, credited with discovering the side stroke,
Edwin Kentfield, whose suggestions transformed the
equipment to the standards we enjoy today,
and Captain Francois Mingaud who perfected the leather tip.

These players are now generally unknown to the modern generation, yet their
stories are told in rare billiard books hidden in museums and private collections.

Games

Although many variations of billiard games evolved during the 1800's
most enjoyed only a brief period of popularity before fading into obscurity.

Until around 1900, Pool was perhaps the second most popular game played in
the United Kingdom, but it was not the game that we see played in pubs today.

Snooker gradually overtook pool and finally English Billiards to become the
most popular game with the first official rules being published in 1901. In its
earliest days the game was known as "Snooker's Pool" or "Snooker Pool" and
while the basic structure of the game has hardly changed, this set of rules
from 1896 is sufficiently different to be of interest.

"The Spanish (or Skittle) Game" was just one of many games that required
the use of skittles. If you'd like to try it these skittles can still be bought today.

And here are two of the strangest games, each with their original rules.

The German Pyramid Game The German Sausage Game

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