Modern snooker just celebrated a Birth Day back in 1875 in India by a bored British Officer !

[Rusty in Montana]

And the rest is history ! Enjoy !!!

On this day: Modern snooker was invented in 1875 in India by Sir Neville Chamberlain, a bored British officer | International Sports News - The Times of India

International Sports News: Discover the intriguing history of snooker, invented in 1875 by Sir Neville Chamberlain in India, and its transformation from a colonial pastime to a worldwide sensation. Learn about its early development, key players, and the evolving landscape of this popular cue sport.

share.google

 

[sjm]

Gotta wonder whether Gunga Din who, per Rudyard Kipling, spent much time in the presence of India-based British military officers, played snooker.

 

[JPB2]

Good article. But I think it will prompt me to learn a bit more about the history of cue sports in the USA which is much richer than the history of the single discipline of snooker. Interestingly it prompted me to look up Neville Chamberlain who is not the Prime Minister one. Late in his career, the snooker inventor had to resign after the Easter Rising in Dublin. British troops used artillery in town, plenty of wounded and killed, a bad event needless to say. In looking up more on American billiards history I saw an article I hadn’t seen before.

Michael Phelan: Father of American Pool, Irish Seditionist - Pool History

Pool aficionados know him as the sport’s first true champion; as a famous promoter, innovator and author. But what may come a surprise is that the man rightfully considered the father of our sport also conspired openly against the British government.

poolhistory.com

Long before the Easter Rising, it looks like a giant figure in American cue sports was supporting the Irish movement that some years later would involve the inventor of snooker. I should add that there was no specific wrongdoing found for Chamberlain in his role with the Royal Irish Constabulary but criticism of how intelligence was handled led to his resignation it looks like.

 

[Rusty in Montana]

Good article. But I think it will prompt me to learn a bit more about the history of cue sports in the USA which is much richer than the history of the single discipline of snooker. Interestingly it prompted me to look up Neville Chamberlain who is not the Prime Minister one. Late in his career, the snooker inventor had to resign after the Easter Rising in Dublin. British troops used artillery in town, plenty of wounded and killed, a bad event needless to say. In looking up more on American billiards history I saw an article I hadn’t seen before.

Michael Phelan: Father of American Pool, Irish Seditionist - Pool History

Pool aficionados know him as the sport’s first true champion; as a famous promoter, innovator and author. But what may come a surprise is that the man rightfully considered the father of our sport also conspired openly against the British government.

poolhistory.com

Long before the Easter Rising, it looks like a giant figure in American cue sports was supporting the Irish movement that some years later would involve the inventor of snooker. I should add that there was no specific wrongdoing found for Chamberlain in his role with the Royal Irish Constabulary but criticism of how intelligence was handled led to his resignation it looks like.

A bit of a side note , during the hay day of mining in Butte Montana there were more people from Ireland living and working in the area around Butte than there were living in Dublin !
St Patrick's Day can be quite interesting to say the least if you ever get the chance to attend !