Five reasons to watch snooker – even if you’re a novice

With The Masters on – not to mention the impending arrival of BBC iPlayer’s exclusive film, The Rack Pack, all about Hurricane Higgins and Steve Davis – it felt like the perfect time to revisit this post.

Here’s why even those uninitiated in the ways of thebaizeshould give snooker a go…

1. It’s the perfect excuse to stay relaxing on the sofa

If you’re a telly fan, hours upon hours of coverage of any event – from Wimbledon to Springwatch – is an utter joy. You become emotionally engaged, engrossed in all the rivalries, and really get behind the underdog. Remember unlucky-in-love Spineless Si? And if you’re really jammy, a tactical frame will drag on into the early hours of the morning. Who needs sleep?

2. You’ll pick up the lingo, like: “Where’s the cue ball going?!”

Like football’s trope, "no easy games" and – a personal favourite from cricket - "corridor of uncertainty", there are certain phrases in snooker that regularly pop up in the commentary. And none has gained more notoriety than the excitable cry (usually by John Virgo) of: "Where’s the cue ball going?!"

The wonderful thing about this question is that the answer is always: 'Towards the pocket, that’s why you’re asking'. Look out for it.

3. You’ll witness old-school showmanship

It’s easy to think – in a world so reliant on sponsorship deals – that athletes are so careful about what they say there are no characters in sport anymore. Enter Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Known as The Rocket for a reason (he holds the record for the fastest-ever maximum break), he can play right or left-handed, once briefly played in his socks, and almost snapped in his cue in frustration earlier this year. He’s also probably the most talented player of all time, and is the most exciting to watch since Hurricane Higgins.

Ronnie’s currently taking a break from competitive snooker, so why not check out that lightning 147 while we await his return? And keep an eye out for Judd Trump, another exciting (and already hugely successful) player who has a nickname to rival Ronnie’s: The Juddernaut.

4. All the cool kids watch it

Just like darts, snooker has gained unlikely hipster status over the past few years, meaning celebs have flocked to watch their favourite cue ball wizards live – and we can spend the breaks in play trying to spot them in the audience.

Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno is a big fan, Richard Osman is too, and with Sheffield being the home of snooker's World Championships, you always have a chance of spotting Pulp's Jarvis Cocker…

5. Hazel Irvine knows everything about sport. EVERYTHING.

There are some sports presenters you just feel safe with, and Hazel Irvine is one of them. From golf's famous fairways to the Olympics, Hazel is always at the Beeb’s biggest sporting events – stats and insights close at hand – and she certainly leads the way when it comes to snooker.

Take note of what she says, and you too can pretend to know your stuff, and not just secretly find the thwack-thwack of snooker balls strangely calming (even though it really is).

Masters Snooker continues on Thursday, 14 January at 1pm on BBC Two. The coverage will be available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days after broadcast on TV.

The Rack Pack is available from Sunday, 17 January at 9pm on BBC iPlayer. 

Comments made by writers on the BBC TV blog are their own opinions and not necessarily those of the BBC.