MAGIC TOUCH
What happens if a player touches a ball in snooker?
Plus a simple guide to the sport
THE aim of snooker is to pot the balls using the cue - but there could be consequences if a player touches them with their hands.
In a nail-biting World Championship 2024 quarter-final Stuart Bingham did just that as he took on Ronnie O'Sullivan.
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Right before Bingham conceded a fourth frame, the Englishman touched the ball with his hand during gameplay.
But did he receive a penalty for doing this?
What happens if a player touches a ball in snooker?
Snooker players are only allowed to touch the ball with their hands on a foul or before the break.
It is called a foul when a player touches any ball on the table with a part of their body.
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It is also a foul if the cue touches any red or colour ball.
The cue should only come into contact with the white cue ball.
The penalty for a foul is a minimum of four points.
If the higher value balls are being played - the blue, pink or black - then the foul is worth the value of the ball in question.
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Therefore the highest score from a foul is seven.
The official rules state that if either player should touch any ball in play, he shall be penalised as if he were the striker without affecting the order of play.
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The ball that has been touched will be replaced by the referee.
The next player may ask if the referee intends to replace balls other than the cue ball if he should ask for the stroke to be played from the original position, and the referee shall state his intentions.
Did Stuart Bingham receive a penalty for touching the ball?
Stuart Bingham did NOT receive a penalty for touching the ball during gameplay.
This is due to Bingham already conceding the frame in his match with Ronnie O'Sullivan.
The rules of snooker
THE aim of snooker is to clear the table of all balls - and achieving it in an incredible 147 break is the ultimate goal.
The rectangular table features green baize, a baulk line and semi-circle, known as the D.
It has six pockets, four in each corner and two midway down both long sides.
There are 15 red balls which are arranged in a triangular shape.
There are also six colour balls, and the white cue ball.
Each colour sits on its own designated spot at the start of the game.
While red balls are worth one point when potted, the colours all have a different value.
In ascending order these are:
- Yellow - two points
- Green - three points
- Brown - four points
- Blue - five points
- Pink - six points
- Black - seven points
The first player will cue off and must hit at least one of the red balls in the triangle.
If they pot a red, they can then continue by potting a colour.
However, if no red is potted then their opponent will play the next shot - going for a red first.
Each player must first pot a red ball when it's their turn to play. If nothing is pocketed it is the other player's turn at the table.
After each red is potted they must then follow with a colour, then a red, then a colour, and so on.
Whilst there are still red balls on the table, the potted colour balls are returned to their designated spot.
Once all the red balls are pocketed, the player at the table must pot the colours in the order as outlined above.
If they miss then their opponent will have the opportunity to clear the table.
A 147 is a maximum break when all reds are potted by one player in one stint at the table.
In order to achieve 147, the player must pot all 15 reds with 15 blacks for 120 points.
They must then clear all the colours, concluding with the black for 27 points.
During play the rules state that the cue must only touch the white cue ball.
The cue ball also must hit the correct colour ball - reds or colours in order.
If it hits the incorrect colour then a foul is called.
If the cue ball fails to hit any ball or is pocketed it is also a foul.
The player's turn at the table ends if they play a foul shot.
Players are also penalised if they touch any ball on the table with their person.
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