Pool, also known as pocket billiards or simply billiards, has a rich and varied history that dates back several centuries.
As mentioned earlier, billiards evolved from lawn games played in Europe during the Middle Ages. By the 15th century, the game had moved indoors and was played on tables with no pockets. However, as the game evolved, players began to experiment with new ways to make shots and increase the difficulty of the game.
The first recorded instance of pocket billiards, where balls were sunk into pockets on the table, was in the late 1700s in England. By the early 1800s, the game had spread to America, where it gained popularity in taverns and pool halls.
In the late 1800s, a standardized set of rules for the game was established, and professional players began to emerge. Tournaments and championships were held, and the game continued to grow in popularity throughout the 20th century.
In the United States, the game was also closely associated with the country's immigrant communities, particularly those from Ireland, who brought their love of the game with them to America. This led to the development of a distinctive style of play known as "straight pool" or "14.1 continuous," which remained popular until the 1960s.
In the 1960s, a new form of pool called "eight-ball" emerged, which quickly became the most popular version of the game in the United States. Other variations, such as nine-ball and ten-ball, also gained popularity in the following decades.
Today, pool remains a popular pastime and competitive sport around the world, with professional players competing in tournaments and championships for large sums of money. The game has also evolved with technology, with new materials and techniques being used to create more precise and durable tables and cues.