Mike Russell 551 Break English billiards Top of the table at its best.

Video taken from a semi final of an IBSF world championship (which I think Mike Russell went on to win). I like to watch the man's mastery of floating white, in particular his ability to use the rescue cannon to maintain the position of his opponent's ball close to the red. This break takes him from being almost 400 points behind to having a reasonable lead which he builds on to win comfortably. Whilst some may say that it is repetitive, I can only wonder at the level of concentration required, and the skill needed to keep the scoring going.

[@mikeyhopkins6021]

Played it a couple of times in a backwater Yorkshire snooker club and my highest break was 12. Exceptionally challenging game; kudos to both these pros.

[@frank-ju4ce]

Any body who says this game is easy wants to try and play it! to control 3 balls is so hard just to get the balls up to the top of the table is hard enough but to keep them there and build a big break is a great achievement.

[@hertor8803]

I'm sure this takes incredible skill but sport is supposed to be about entertainment right? Why on earth would anyone pay to watch this? Some simple rule changes would do wonders. You need rules that put as much distance between the balls as possible so that cannons are much harder. How about when you pot the red it is then placed at the furthest spot from the yellow ball? I don't know, I'm sure there's plenty that could be done to bring it in to the 21st century.

[@saudade2745]

I learnt today that billiards at its best is cue sports at its worst.

[@lifewithglee]

I nodded off watching this.

[@mez7736]

Genuine question from a snooker player ignorant to the rules of billiards. What denotes the end of a player's visit to the table? I was quite surprised watching this when no pot or in-off were made and yet the guy stayed at the table.

[@hughmackay5200]

The skill and patience in this game has impressed me no end. I used to think billiards was the poor relation of snooker. It is not.

[@nickmorris9689]

I could probably do very well at this game . I can go in off at will ….

[@richardbanks1286]

Great game to play, not so great to watch

[@markdonnelly1810]

My wife took me down from the blue rope 😂😂😂

[@boffwozere]

I am sure there is a lot of skill involved in positioning the balls et cetera but damn watching paint dry becomes positively riveting after watching this for about 10 minutes

[@stukay2803]

I've been playing semi-regularly for 25 years. I've had precisely 3 breaks of 150+ at a handicap that's never been better than +30 for a (200) game. There's a guy playing Number 1 in our comp that ... well he hasn't played in a couple of years cos he's been unwell, but in a (200) game he played off a handicap of -185. It's utterly magic watching him.

[@AnilAgrawal]

Amazing 🤩 simply amazing 🤩

[@user-by2dz4ms2n]

I knock in 100 breaks but struggle at this game i played geet sethi when he played in rileys luton mid late 80s ..what a player

[@sushrutpandia6764]

No one knows your tellent made 1139, 1125, 1134, 1152, 1312, 1276, thank you for your legand of game simply sansactional. Feeling at top of the table keep faith and honesty highest level trust in your self and make it up for once again ❤❤❤❤❤ I involve in my high standard. Not in my hard time threw. Let's enjoy friends

[@williamedwards1936]

Fantastic display of skill

[@bizbizley]

The first time I played it I was still shaking having just run the bulls in Pamplona. A fascinating game, especially when a good player seems to be out of position.

[@AngrierGorilla]

And the break ended with a bloody kick, damn!

[@5wisher5weet]

22:05

[@doosrajawad]

Amazing how little the yellow ball travelled through a 100+ touches