Billiards

Billiards (French, billiards, “curved stick”), indoor table game for two or more players played with balls and cues. There are two basic and classic forms: pocket (or English) billiards, played on a table with pockets; carom (or French) billiards, played on a table without pockets. There are several varieties in both categories of which the most widely played are the various forms of pool.

In a cricket-obsessed country like India, cue sports like billiards have had to toil hard to gain mass acceptance. This, despite the fact that over the years India has been a force to reckon with in world billiards competitions. An impressive assembly of great champions like Wilson Jones, Michael Ferreira and Geet Sethi has underlined the powerhouse status of the country.

Billiards In India

In India, the progress of billiards has been stymied by the popular notion that the game is elitist in nature and is the prerogative of the affluent class. Because of such a mindset, bravura performances of our champions have failed to spur the youngsters to follow a career in billiards and snooker.

But, of late, billiards has been able to catch the fancy of the masses courtesy the dazzling performances of prodigies like Pankaj Advani. The media too, for a change, has started to provide substantial coverage to billiards and other cue sports. The Billiards and Snooker Federation of India, the apex body, needs to play a proactive role in popularizing the game.
 

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