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Spain is quietly becoming a hotspot for snooker, a traditionally British cue sport, and at the heart of its growth is a dedicated club in Zaragoza. Though largely unknown to the public, the Free Ball Zaragoza boasts the best snooker facilities in the contry, attracting a growing number of players and hosting national championships.
From British Pubs to Spanish Arenas: The Rise of Snooker in spain
“But over there, the players are genuine stars,” explains a member of the Free Ball Zaragoza, who is also the first spanish international snooker referee. The club currently has around 35 members, and estimates suggest between 200 and 300 active snooker players across Spain. Many discover the sport through broadcasts on Eurosport, where it consistently ranks among the most popular programs after tennis and cycling.
The first thing visitors notice is the sheer size of the tables. Measuring 12×6 feet (approximately 3.60×1.80 meters), they dwarf the billiards tables commonly found in Spanish bars. “We are the club with the most tables in the country, with six,” states Juan Sahagún, the current president of Free Ball.
Beyond Size: Understanding the Game
While sharing similarities with pool, snooker presents a unique set of challenges. The game utilizes 15 red balls and six colored balls – yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black – each assigned a specific point value. Players begin by potting a red ball (worth one point), then alternate between reds and colors, with the black ball being the most valuable at seven points. Once all the reds are potted, players target the colors in descending order of value. A match can last up to two hours, and strategic play is key, even allowing players to score by capitalizing on their opponent’s mistakes.
“Its a very mental sport. They call it chess with balls as it’s very tactical and you can apply a lot of strategy,” explains another club member, Juan Pablo Martín. “You have to combine physical elements with mathematics and keep a cool head. If a player is better than you going on the attack,you can’t play on the attack. You have to play defensively.” Defensive play, according to the member, involves “effectively trying to make things difficult for your opponent, leaving them with complex shots.”
Snooker also embodies a strong sense of sportsmanship, characteristic of British traditions. “There is a code of honor that must be followed and even a dress code. In importent competitions, you have to wear a shirt, vest, and shoes. And you have to be honest and inform the referee of any fouls you commit, as there are many, such as touching a ball that shouldn’t be touched, which only you can perceive,” explains the international referee.
A Labor of Love: Building a Snooker Hub
Through the dedication of its 35 members,Zaragoza has emerged as a key location for the sport in Spain. The Free Ball club has hosted the Spanish team Championship since last year, with the most recent event taking place last weekend. Catalonia won the championship, followed by Madrid, with Aragón’s two teams securing third and fourth place. the Spanish Individual Championship is also scheduled to be held at the club in the coming months.
Remarkably, the club operates without any form of public subsidy, relying entirely on the contributions of its members. “The one who used to be a banker is the treasurer. The one who knows about IT installed the webcams, and the one who knows about iron made us some lockers to store the cues,” members shared. The most challenging aspect of establishing the club was transporting the six snooker tables, each weighing 1.600 kilos, with a stone playing surface to ensure a perfectly smooth glide for the balls. “It cost us sweat and vertebrae to bring them here,” they joked.
For those intrigued, matches from the club’s official competitions are streamed on YouTube, or you can visit this hidden corner of san José. Alternatively, tune into Eurosport to witness the growing excitement surrounding this captivating sport.
