The Asian Confederation of Billiards Sports (ACBS) has reduced the number of red balls from 15 to six in snooker at its meeting in Bangkok last week. With the decision getting a unanimous nod from its board members,the ACBS also passed a resolution that the game will be played under the new rules at the Asian Indoor Games this October and at the Asian Games next year in Guangzhou. Confirming this to The Indian Express,Ravi K Tandon,vice-president of the Billiards and Snooker Federation of India (BSFI),said the decision would be a shot in the arm for the sport. He said the reduction in balls would mean the game would get over quickly,generating more interest. Apart from taking away the boring element,it would arrest the safety-first approach by players. That is what the audience wants these days, he said. Capt PVK Mohan,president of the Indian body who attended the meeting at Bangkok,said the BSFI can now look forward to tapping their resources to find sponsors for the game in the country. Reiterating the need for a new format,Mohan said now players will have to be on their toes and avoid deliberately consuming time. Beyond a time period,it renders even a game like snooker very boring,particularly when it is best of 13 or 15 frames.
