Speed pool
Encyclopedia
Speed pool is a solitary pool
game. As its name suggests, one all the pool balls
on the table
as quickly as possible. It can played be competitively with the aid of a stopwatch.
which was broadcast on ESPN
. The games played in this event included one based on straight pool
as well as the more common version described above, which is derived from eight-ball. The object in each match was to play all games with a shorter total time than other players. Luc Salvas
was the first to win this event, which had a US$
50,000 winner-take-all purse that year.
Pocket billiards
Pool, also more formally known as pocket billiards or pool billiards , is the family of cue sports and games played on a pool table having six receptacles called pockets along the , into which balls are deposited as the main goal of play. Popular versions include eight-ball and nine-ball...
game. As its name suggests, one all the pool balls
Billiard ball
A billiard ball is a small, hard ball used in cue sports, such as carom billiards, pool, and snooker. The number, type, diameter, color, and pattern of the balls differ depending upon the specific game being played...
on the table
Billiards table
A billiard table or billiards table is a bounded table on which billiards-type games are played. In the modern era, all billiards tables provide a flat surface usually made of quarried slate, that is covered with cloth and surrounded by vulcanized rubber cushions, with the whole elevated above...
as quickly as possible. It can played be competitively with the aid of a stopwatch.
Rules
- The must not be in motion when shooting can still be in motion when shooting
- Ball and pocket must be , (No the balls in)
- Legal shots must be made — a 10-second penalty will be incurred for each .
- A legal shot involves the cue ball contacting an object ball, and driving it to a , or the cue ball hitting a cushion after contact, or pocketing an object ball
- Any ball may be pocketed, except that the must be last.
Strategy
Observing professionals, one can see them running madly around the table to place their next shot. Unlike most billiard games, the cue ball is mostly used with a to minimize the waiting time. are legal, but time-consuming, and thus rare. A legal shot to just nudge the object ball for on a subsequent easy shot is preferred.Tournaments
Because speed pool is a relatively recent development in pool, there are few tournaments devoted to it. One notable event was the International Speed Pool ChallengeInternational Speed Pool Challenge
The International Speed Pool Challenge is a pool tournament held in the United States since 2006. It is the most notable speed pool event, as well as being the richest in prize money for that discipline. Luc Salvas won the 2010 championship, defeating Bobby McGrath in the finals.Four players...
which was broadcast on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. The games played in this event included one based on straight pool
Straight Pool
Straight pool, also called 14.1 continuous or simply 14.1, is a pocket billiards game, and was the common sport of championship competition until overtaken by faster-playing games like nine-ball...
as well as the more common version described above, which is derived from eight-ball. The object in each match was to play all games with a shorter total time than other players. Luc Salvas
Luc Salvas
Luc Salvas is a Canadian professional pool player. His quick-paced speed pool play earned him the nickname "Machine Gun". In 2006, he won the first International Speed Pool Challenge and the US$50,000 winner-take-all purse by defeating Great Britain's Dave Pearson...
was the first to win this event, which had a US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
50,000 winner-take-all purse that year.
Notable professional players
- Dave PearsonDave Pearson (pool player)Dave Pearson is a British professional pool player.Pearson was the runner-up in the International Speed Pool Challenge four years in a row, losing to Luc Salvas in the 2006 and 2009 finals, and to Bobby McGrath in the 2007-2008 finals.-References:...
("the Ginger Wizard") - Luc SalvasLuc SalvasLuc Salvas is a Canadian professional pool player. His quick-paced speed pool play earned him the nickname "Machine Gun". In 2006, he won the first International Speed Pool Challenge and the US$50,000 winner-take-all purse by defeating Great Britain's Dave Pearson...
- Jeanette Lee ("the Black Widow")
- Bobby McGrathBobby McGrathBobby McGrath is an American professional pool player from Washington, Illinois, nicknamed "the Kid" for being one of the youngest professional pool players....
("the Kid")