Snooker Scoring

[andy-hughes]

In the televised snooker, does the referee read the score from the scoreboard, and announce it, or does the referee announce the score, and the scoreboard is updated?

[Buenchico]

As the scoreboard operator has no official role to fulfil (i.e. his job isn't one recognised to any great extent in the rules), I would assume that the scoreboard operator is meant to follow the referee's announcements relating to the score.

As an analogy, neither the scorers (who fill in the score books) not the scoreboard operators in cricket are the arbiters of the actual scores. If they can see that a ball dropped inside the boundary, and then bounced over it, when the umpire signals a 'six', then they have to go with the umpire's call and add 6 runs to the score total. I feel sure that it's much the same in snooker.

However, in practice, a cricket scoreboard operator is likely to add 4 or 6 runs to the score as soon as he or she sees the ball cross the boundary line, without actually waiting for the umpire's signal. It's probably much the same in snooker, where the scoreboard operator has already calculated what should be added to the score.

All that the Official Rules state is
"As well as the referee, it is the players’ responsibility to make sure
that the correct score is being applied, either on the scoreboard or
by the referee announcing the scores. If any player notices that the
score is incorrect, it is their responsibility to inform the referee at
the earliest opportunity" [Section 4, Rule 6]
and
"The marker shall keep the score on the scoreboard and assist
the referee in carrying out their duties. The marker shall also act
as a stroke recorder if necessary" [Section 5, Rule 2]

[THECORBYLOON]

I'm sure that at one point, if the ref called the wrong score and it wasn't corrected before the next ball had been struck (potted?), the score had been condoned so it stood.

I mind on thinking that with that being the case, the ultimate maximum of 155 in a break could be exceeded.

[davebro]

What about when the ref re-spotted the pink on the blue spot when the black spot was available. I think it's the player's responsibility to ensure the table is correct, so if he went ahead with his next shot without pointing out the error he should be penalised?

[THECORBYLOON]

Section 3 Rule 7(a) states, "A player shall not be held responsible for any mistake by the referee in failing to spot any ball correctly."