Why Has Billiards Remained in the Shadow of Snooker?

In cue sports, Snooker tends to dominate the rest; out of the two sports, it's all you'll see on TV. It has globally renowned stars and a huge followership. Billiards tends to remain in the shadows with little to no coverage. But what's stopping the quintessential game from stepping into the limelight? What is the reason behind the cues? Read on to find out.

Billiards Came First, So Why Did Snooker Take Over?

Billiards is the grandfather of all cue sports.

It came into existence centuries ago before snooker and was popular among high societies, but the introduction of snooker back in the late 1800s changed that. Snooker saw the introduction of complex rules, various types of colourful balls, and an increased depth in strategising.

Fast forward to the 20th century, and it was evident that snooker was inching closer to dominance on the screens. It had the perfect length with unprecedented levels of drama and suspense that were a broadcaster's dream. Billiards' undemanding gameplay and little to no fans made it tough for there to be any competition.

Star Players Have Made Snooker Exciting, But Billiards Lacks a Spotlight

It's the star players everyone is looking for in upcoming snooker matches. Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, and Steve Davis are household names for most people.

These athletes, if you can call them that, are not just sportspeople. They have turned into entertainers, and these athletes have single-handedly turned the sport of snooker into a grand spectacle.

The same can't be said for billiards. It lacks the modern-day media figures that can promote and advertise the sport globally. Speedy, strong personalities are what the media wants; sadly, billiards lack and suffer from that advertisement and marketing vacuum.

The professional sensation intrigues people with stories and reasons to watch. New fame-inspiring stars would boost the vision of billiards, but until such a thing is created, billiards will remain an unknown sport while snooker expands.

Accessibility, Simplicity, and Why Billiards Struggles to Reach New Players

Its international appeal isn't just based on the game. It's with how user-friendly the game is. You can find snooker all over the globe, be it in bars or even at people's homes. Again, you don't have that with billiards.

A billiard table doesn't appeal to a greater number of people, which, as a result, has a negative effect on its popularity.

These reasons contribute to a potential negative experience for new-time players. With snooker feeling more inclusive and contemporary, there is a great risk of billiards becoming a mere antique. Some people reading this won't even know what the game is!

Snooker’s Marketing Success Proves Billiards Needs a Makeover

The tactful promotion through the marketing of snooker helped in the growth. This increase in recognition aided in building blitzing world championships and billions worth of sponsorships over the game.  Season finales are broadcast over the globe, allowing people to identify and attach themselves to their favourite players, turning it into a global phenomenon. 

For some people, it's more than a leisurely activity. To some people, it's a complete thrill.

For the billiard tables, there is a lack of high-profile tournaments, and the publicity tends to be scarce. Ample sponsorships and glorifying advertisements don't endorse billiards, which is why they remain obscure. The best approach to tackle this is fame-pushing strategies, establishing a chain of events, and high-level investments.

Turning the tides might not be straightforward. We highly doubt billiards will make its comeback, sadly. It'll stay that random game that some people play, and others have never heard about.

Why does billiards remain overshadowed by snooker? Absolutely, there's no question about it. Billiards has always been conventional and modest, while snooker has transformed into a worldwide sensation thanks to its popularity and growth potential.

New marketing methods, tournaments, and accessibility can potentially boost billiards' status. Until then, we think it's likely billiards will continue to hide in the shadows. Snooker is just the superior sport all around.