Heyball is emerging as a major new format in cue sports, blending the precision of snooker with the speed and accessibility of pool. Governed by unified rules under the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), it features tight pockets, faster surfaces, smaller tables compared to snooker, and faster gameplay.

India is embracing the sport — the inaugural Jr Heyball Championship in Bengaluru brought together over 50 players from more than 25 countries.  The NSCI National Heyball Championship in Delhi also showcases growing domestic interest among Indian cueists.

At the international level, the 2025 WPA Heyball “Champion of Champions” tournament, co-hosted by JOY Billiards in Australia, featured 128 top players from 56 countries, with large prize pools and increasing media coverage.

Heyball’s rise is fueled by several factors:

Speed and spectator appeal: Quicker matches than traditional snooker, with more dynamic play.

Global tournaments and structures: Clear rules, global governing bodies, and big tournaments are giving it legitimacy.

Growing base in Asia, Europe, and other regions: For example, in Zimbabwe, Heyball is being introduced alongside existing cue-sports, not to replace them, but to complement.

Olympic aspirations: Efforts are underway to have Heyball recognised as potential medal sport

For newcomers, learning Heyball means understanding its rules (which borrow but differ from pool and snooker), adapting to its equipment (table size, pockets, cloth, cue), and gaining speed with shot decision-making.