One Frame Snooker

One frame snooker is an art form in its own right and is played by thousands of league / club players the length and breadth of the country.

In the Preston and District Snooker League in Lancashire for example, approximately 60 teams with over 500 players play one frame snooker every Wednesday night throughout the league season. In addition, all team cup competitions in this league operate to the same format, with only the individual and doubles competitions played over a greater number of frames.

Many current professional players continue to participate in their local leagues. In Preston, five current professionals Stuart Pettman, Ian McCulloch, Leigh Robinson, Steve Rowlings and Justin Smalley, play for various teams when commitments allow. Two ex-professional players Steve Whalley and Chris Cookson also enjoy the competitive nature of one frame snooker in a team format.

All agree; there is much greater pressure in one frame snooker than in matches of longer duration.

The one frame model however, is rarely played in major tournaments by the world's leading professionals. The exception to this is perhaps the Nations Cup, recently held in January of 2001. This tournament is played in teams of three with players scoring points for their team in one frame shoot-outs with the opposition.

The vagaries and pressures of one frame snooker differ enormously from the longer matches in recognised tournaments. This results in lower scoring, tighter affairs during frames, with players frightened to make an error as a mistake may cost them the frame.

The closeness of frames adds to the viewing spectacle, creating tension and interest for the public. The team format creates further pressure as players do not wish to let colleagues down through mistakes in shot selection or potting.

The only time that one frame is vitally important in the majority of professional matches is if the game is level approaching the last frame. The most dramatic of all one frame shoot-outs must be the 35th frame of the 1985 Embassy World Championships.

Although 34 frames of snooker had already been played the winner of the 35th would be champion of the world. The last frame encompassed everything that one frame snooker involves and would prove spell binding watching for millions of viewers.

Not just the last frame, but the very last ball the black, would eventually decide the outcome.

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