Riley enters the Pantheon of snooker greats

In the world of snooker, some names stand out. Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Riley. In fact, this last name links all these great players, as they will all have played on a Riley table at the very pinnacle of the game in the shape of the World Snooker Championships. Snooker has come a long way since it was first invented in an officer’s mess in India. From multi-million pound prize pots and huge television viewing figures in the 80s to today’s growing interest in the game in Asia, it’s a game that’s never stopped evolving. Likewise, technology plays a greater part than we might think in producing the tables and cues that are used by our snooker heroes and household names. For instance, take one of the models of slate snooker table that’s made by Riley, the Aristocrat. Slate is a crucial ingredient in the design of any table, as it provides the level playfield without which the game would be a far more chance-driven affair. This slate is taken from its Italian quarries and laser cut to a thickness of exactly 2.5cm. It’s this precision, together with old-fashioned craftsmanship, that enables Riley to produce world-class equipment!