Reason why snooker tables are coloured green as World Championship final takes place

The is set to reach its thrilling climax at the Crucible on Monday night, with Sheffield once again transforming into the snooker capital of the world. This two-week event, the pinnacle of the sport's calendar, often sparks a surge in snooker's popularity, with snooker halls across the country experiencing their busiest time of the year.

The tournament's high profile could inspire newcomers to pick up a cue and learn the basics of this intricate game. As new players join the ranks, some fundamental aspects of the sport will be explained - including the most basic question of all: why is a snooker table green? Despite being an indoor sport, the green baize of a snooker table is reminiscent of an outdoor sports field. This wasn't always the case though, reports .

The game of billiards, which bears a striking resemblance to croquet, was originally played outdoors by the wealthy aristocracy. It is often said that King Louis XI of France was responsible for bringing the game indoors, becoming the first proud owner of a pool table.

The transition from outdoor play to indoor comfort proved popular, with the green 'lawn' themed tables becoming a staple as the outdoor version of the game faded into obscurity. However, there's another fascinating piece of snooker history which attributes the uniform green of today's tables to a rather colourful episode in the 1870s.

Back in the day, it's said that snooker tables came in a variety of colours, including a particularly striking shade of orange that was quite a sight after a long stint at the table. This bright orange not only caused eye strain but also made it difficult for players to track the balls, occasionally leading to disputes.

Such an incident occurred during an 1871 match between Arthur Terry and Riland Metcalfe, when a disagreement over ball tracking escalated, resulting in Terry being arrested for "occasioning violent harm" against Metcalfe. Despite facing judgment for the altercation, Terry reportedly escaped punishment when the judge acknowledged that the table's colour was partially responsible.

The magistrate is believed to have suggested that "henceforth the cause of harmonious play would be advanced if the snooker tables were manufactured in standard green, giving strong contrast to the red of the ball."

This reasoning certainly makes sense, as the green felt provides a clear distinction from the red balls - something worth considering for any budding Ronnie O'Sullivan wondering why they missed that seemingly easy pot.