Any snooker fans or players here?

[The_Traveler]

I saw this video mentioned as a real act of sportsmanship - and because I am completely without knowledge re snooker, I have no idea why.

any hints?

 

[waday]

Not fully up on my billiards/snooker, but my guess:

The cue should have hit the red ball from first person. It didn't. Since it didn't, the second person had the option to move the cue ball back and make the first person re-shoot. But second player just decided to play on and count it as a hit, since the cue ball was in such a difficult position to hit the red ball for the shot from first person.

I could be way off?

 

[Designer]

I never learned any rules, but when I was a kid, my friend and I played on a a snooker table. Just knocking them in.

Since the pockets are smaller, we had SKILLZ. When we went to a pool table, we could not only call the shot, but which side of the gigantic pocket we would sink it into.

There are rules?

 

[The_Traveler]

Since the pockets are smaller, we had SKILLZ. When we went to a pool table, we could not only call the shot, but which side of the gigantic pocket we would sink it into.

The first time I saw a snooker table was at an RAF base that use an old mansion for its officers mess. The pockets are very, tiny and the table very, very large. I don't think I sunk a bll on purpose the whole our.

The cue should have hit the red ball from first person. It didn't. Since it didn't, the second person had the option to move the cue ball back and make the first person re-shoot. But second player just decided to play on and count it as a hit, since the cue ball was in such a difficult position to hit the red ball for the shot from first person.

Without following the specific too closely, I understand, I think.
I'll stick to the simpleton's version where every ball on the table has a number.
Thanks for answer

 

[sashbar]

It was declared a miss, that means Stphen Hendry can choose whether to play the ball or to return it to the initial position for his opponent to retake the shot. The shot is very, very difficult, almost impossible and each failed retake brings penalty points. It is a horrible situation for his opponent. But Stephen (who is multiple world champ) acknowledged his brilliant effort and decided to play on even if his own shot would not bring him any advantage.

 

[KmH]

Snooker Rules

5. When the striker has a red ball as his "ball on" (legal object ball), he must cause the cue ball's first contact to be with a red ball. Failure to do so is a foul (See Penalties For Fouls)

Penalties for Fouls

The following are fouls and incur a penalty of four points or the higher one prescribed:
1. value of the ball on -
by striking:
a) when the balls are still moving from the previous shot. b) the cue ball more than once (double hit). c) without at least one foot on the floor. d) out of turn. e) improperly from in hand within the Half Circle.
by causing:
f) the cue ball to miss all object balls.

Way back in the day I played Snooker regularly at a local bar known as the Kremal. I got to be a bit better than average.

The Pool and Snooker tables were in the back, as were the poker and Black Jack tables.
We paid Charlie to play. Pool was $0.10 per game and Charlie racked the balls. Snooker was a whopping $0.25 per game, with Charlie setting up the table for each game.

Often players from the LA area would visit, mainly to play 9-Ball with local 'sticks'. Though out little Southern California farming town only had about 15,000 people we had a surprising number of pool sharks.
The 9-ball games usually went on for hours and hours and at $100 a game thousands of dollars changed hands.
I once watched a match from Friday afternoon until Saturday night. The match ended Sunday afternoon when the player from LA had to start driving back to LA.

I play online pool everyday. 8 Ball Quick Fire Pool - A free Pool Game

 

[robbins.photo]

Ok, so what I got out of this was.. one guy doesn't hit the other guy with the stick he's carrying. Sportsmanship!

Ya... I have no clue about snooker.

 

[KmH]

Basics of Snooker.
As mentioned the table is larger than a Pool table, and the pockets are smaller, but have a somewhat more accommodating shape where the pocket meets the rail than a Pool pocket.
You must sink a red ball (1-point each, and there are 15 red balls) before you can shoot at a color ball (point value - red-1, yellow-2, green-3, brown-4, blue-5, pink-6, black-7.)
As long as a red remains on the table, each potted color is spotted prior to the next stroke.
When no reds remain on the table, the striker's 'balls on' become the colors, in ascending numerical order (2,3,4,5,6,7). From here the legally potted colors are not spotted after each is potted; they remain off the table.
Object of the Game: To score a greater number of points than the opponent.

 

[robbins.photo]

Basics of Snooker.
As mentioned the table is larger than a Pool table, and the pockets are smaller, but have a somewhat more accommodating shape where the pocket meets the rail than a Pool pocket.
You must sink a red ball (1-point each, and there are 15 red balls) before you can shoot at a color ball (point value - red-1, yellow-2, green-3, brown-4, blue-5, pink-6, black-7.)
As long as a red remains on the table, each potted color is spotted prior to the next stroke.
When no reds remain on the table, the striker's 'balls on' become the colors, in ascending numerical order (2,3,4,5,6,7). From here the legally potted colors are not spotted after each is potted; they remain off the table.
Object of the Game: To score a greater number of points than the opponent.

So this is a decidedly English game with way too many complex rules covering almost every conceivable situation. Got it.

 

[The_Traveler]

It was declared a miss, that means Stphen Hendry can choose whether to play the ball or to return it to the initial position for his opponent to retake the shot. The shot is very, very difficult, almost impossible and each failed retake brings penalty points. It is a horrible situation for his opponent. But Stephen (who is multiple world champ) acknowledged his brilliant effort and decided to play on even if his own shot would not bring him any advantage.

After reading the rulesI think I understand. So a red ball bust be potted first and then a colored ball (red is not a color). So the following player just played a safety (or whatever snooker players call it) by putting the cure at the other end with no available red ball to pocket.

Thanks, now I get it. (I think)