About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/2667034-championship%20pool%20%28u%29_00002.png" data-ref-id="1300-2667034" data-ratio="0.875" data-width="256" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 256px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:87.5%" href="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/2667034-championship%20pool%20%28u%29_00002.png" data-ref-id="1300-2667034"><img alt="No Caption Provided" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/2667034-championship%20pool%20%28u%29_00002.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/2667034-championship%20pool%20%28u%29_00002.png 256w" sizes="(max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px" data-width="256"></a></figure><p>Championship Pool is a top-down billiards game developed by <a href="/bitmasters-inc/3010-4162/" data-ref-id="3010-4162">Bitmasters</a> and published by <a href="/mindscape/3010-132/" data-ref-id="3010-132">Mindscape</a> for the <a href="/super-nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo Entertainment System</a>, <a href="/genesis/3045-6/" data-ref-id="3045-6">Sega Genesis</a>, <a href="/nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-21/" data-ref-id="3045-21">Nintendo Entertainment System</a>, and <a href="/game-boy/3045-3/" data-ref-id="3045-3">Game Boy</a> on October-November 1993. The SNES version later received a Japanese release on June 24, 1994 by <a href="/imagineer-co-ltd/3010-374/" data-ref-id="3010-374">Imagineer</a> as <em>Super Billiard: Championship Pool</em>.</p><p>Playing similar to other top-down billiards games at the time, such as <a href="/side-pocket/3030-2042/" data-ref-id="3030-2042">Side Pocket</a>, Championship Pool features several different variations of the sport, multiple game modes (including an in-depth single-player tournament mode, a <a href="/sandbox/3015-453/" data-ref-id="3015-453">sandbox</a>-style free-form mode, multiple "Party" modes, and a challenge mode), an instant replay system, and multiple camera zoom options (with the 16-bit versions featuring an alternate rotatable angled view).</p><p>Unlike most other pool adaptations, the game is endorsed by the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billiard_Congress_of_America" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Billiard Congress of America</a> and uses their competitive standardized rules, which may include some significant differences with traditional rules (such as requiring all shots be "called" in games of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-ball" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">eight-ball</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_pool" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">straight pool</a>).</p><h2>Game Modes</h2><h3>Freestyle</h3><p>With no built-in rules, Freestyle is a sandbox mode can be used for general practice, trying out trickshots, and playing with custom rules. Any ball can be moved around the table.</p><h3>Party</h3><p>The game's multiplayer mode, with 11 different pool variants to choose from. Unlike most other pool games at the time, this one uses only one controller that is passed between players.</p><h4>Two Player Only</h4><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight-ball" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>Eight Ball</strong></a> - After determining which player gets the Solids (1-ball to 7-ball) or the Stripes (9-ball to 15-ball) from an open 15-ball rack, the first player to sink all of their balls and then legally pocket the 8-ball wins. Unlike most other interpretations, all shots after the break must be called.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_pool" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>14.1 Continuous</strong></a> - Players are scored a point for each ball legally pocketed (with penalty points for certain types of fouls) on a 15-ball rack that re-racks when low, and the first player to reach the score limit wins. All shots, including the break shot, must be called.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_pool" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>Basic Pocket Billiards</strong></a> - The first player to sink eight balls in a 15-ball rack wins. All shots after the break must be called.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-pocket" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>One Pocket</strong></a> - Similar to Basic Pocket Billiards, with the only differences being that shots no longer need to be called and that players can only legally sink balls in their respective corners (lower-right for player one, upper-right for player two).</li></ul><h4>Up to Eight Players</h4><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-ball" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>Nine Ball</strong></a> - Players take turns trying to be the first to pocket the 9-ball in a 9-ball rack, where the first ball the cue ball strikes must be the lowest numbered ball on the table.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten-ball" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>Ten Ball</strong></a> - Similar to Nine Ball, only with the goal instead of being the first to pocket the 10-ball in a 10-ball rack.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotation_(pool)" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>Rotation</strong></a> - Players are scored points for each ball legally pocketed in a 15-ball rack, with the point value equal to the ball's number. The first ball the cue ball strikes must be the lowest numbered ball on the table.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Equal Offense</strong> - A round-based variation of 14.1 Continuous where players score as much as they can on a single turn before their round ends and the table is reset. Players get a free break in their turn.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifteen-ball_pool" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>Fifteen Ball</strong></a> - Similar to Rotation, only with no restriction on which ball the cue ball strikes first.</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-ball" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>Three Ball</strong></a> - Round-based game where players are scored based on how few shots were used to legally sink three balls in a 3-ball rack, with players continuing their turn until all three balls are sunk (and the table resets).</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_pool" data-target="true" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><strong>Speed Pool</strong></a> - Round-based game where players are scored based on how quickly they sink all balls in a 15-ball rack, with players continuing their turn until all balls are sunk (and the table resets).</li></ul><h3>Tournament</h3><p>A single-player mode where players can enter a single-elimination tournament in either the Eight Ball or Nine Ball variations, where they play one-on-one best-of-seven matches against A.I. opponents.</p><p>The game uses a "Time Warp Simulator" to not only skip the opponents' play for quicker games, but to allow players to skip the opening break shot.</p><h3>Challenge</h3><p>Single-player variations of six of the Party mode games, with players being ranked on their performance once the game ends.</p><ul><li><strong>14.1 Challenge</strong> - Game ends on a miss. Players get a free break in their turn.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Eight Ball</strong> - Players are scored 10 points for each legally sunk ball after the break, with 50 points for a legally sunk 8-ball. Game ends after three rounds, with misses ending the round. Players get a free break in their turn.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Nine Ball</strong> - Players are scored 10 points for each legally sunk ball, with 50 points for a legally sunk 9-ball. Game ends after three rounds, with misses ending the round. Players get a free break in their turn.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Equal Offense</strong> - Game ends after five rounds.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Three Ball</strong> - Game ends after three rounds.</li></ul><ul><li><strong>Speed Pool</strong> - Game ends after three rounds.</li></ul>