Billiards
English billiards uses three balls: a white for one player, a yellow for the other and a red. Points come from a pot, an in-off (the cue-ball entering a pocket off another ball) or a cannon (the cue-ball hitting both other balls). A cannon scores two, potting or going in-off the opponent's ball two and the red three.
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How long
Games to a set number of points, or for a set time
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1World Billiards Championship (professional)The professional world title in English billiards.Yearly (to check) · Holder: 2025, Great Wyrley: David Causier beat Dhruv…
- 2IBSF World Billiards ChampionshipThe amateur world title, often won by Indian players.Yearly · Holder: Sourav Kothari beat Pankaj Advani 1133–477
- 3Asian Games (cue sports)Asia's multi-sport title; Pankaj Advani won the billiards singles gold in 2006 and 2010.Every 4 years; held 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 only
India
India has 11 professional world titles: Geet Sethi (1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2006), Pankaj Advani (2009, 2012, 2014 twice), Rupesh Shah (2012) and Sourav Kothari (2018). At the IBSF championship India has 31 men's titles and the 2015 women's title (Arantxa Sanchis); the article's summary table gives India 27 [the two pages].
- World Billiards Championship (English billiards, professional): 11 titles: Geet Sethi (1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 2006), Pankaj Advani (2009, 2012, 2014 twice), Rupesh Shah (2012), Sourav Kothari (2018)
- IBSF World Billiards Championship: 31 men's titles and the 2015 women's title (Arantxa Sanchis); the article's summary table gives India 27
Who runs it
| Rules made by | World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), Official Rules of the Games of Snooker and English Billiards, May 2022 update; the amateur game follows the International Billiards and Snooker Federation's rules |
| International federation | WPBSA for the professional game and the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) for the amateur game |
| In India | Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI): recognised, on the MYAS list for 2026 as "Billiards and Snooker" |
Where and when it is played
On a table 11 ft 8½ in by 5 ft 10 in inside the cushions, often called a 12-foot table. The big events: the professional World Billiards Championship and the IBSF World Billiards Championship, both every year.