Billiards Association and Control Club

Billiards Control Council and amalgamation

The Billiards Association's control over the professional game of billiards was challenged by the Billiards Control Council (BCC), formed in 1908, which issued a different set of rules. The key differences in the BCC's version were that a player could not make more than two miss shots successively, and a simpler explanation of penalties. The professional players changed their allegiance to the newer Control Council, and the professional championships were played under BCC rules, whilst most amateurs continued to play under Billiards Association rules. The two organisations decided that it was in their mutual interest to amalgamate, and formed the Billiards Association and Control Club, later renamed the Billiards Association and Control Council (BA&CC), in 1919. Willie Smith defeated Claude Falkiner 16,000–14,500 to win the first BA&CC title, in May 1920. There were many variations of the rules of snooker at the time, and the new Association codified the rules of snooker in 1919. The new rules included the concept of a re-spotted black in the event of points being level at the end of a frame, and having a free ball instead of playing from in hand when there was no clear shot at the object ball after a foul.