Rule spotlight
The Freeze Rule
A snookered player calls FREEZE. Play stops for 45 seconds — and a brand new micro-market opens on the hardest shot of the rack.
What it is
Pressure, paused
Cue sport's most dramatic moments happen when a player is stuck. The Freeze Rule takes that moment and turns it into a broadcast event and a fresh betting round — comparable to ball-by-ball cricket, with deterministic data integrity behind every price.
Instead of rushing an escape under a running clock, the player buys 45 seconds of stillness to read the table. For viewers it is a tension spike. For traders it is a natural re-pricing point. For punters it is a brand new market on a pattern already in motion.
45s
Standstill
15s
To generate market
30s
Betting window
Triggers
- Out of position
- Forced jump shot
- Snooker / kick shot
- Bank shot
- Difficulty spike above threshold
Freeze markets
Next Shot Difficulty — Over / Under
Difficulty index of the upcoming forced shot, scored on angle, distance and obstruction.
Position Gain — RUNOUT / MISS
Will the cue-ball position improve relative to the next scheduled ball after the forced shot?
Escape — RUNOUT / MISS
Will the player make legal contact and clear the obstruction on the next shot?
Foul During Escape
Will the attempted escape result in a foul?
Pattern Completion (freeze price)
Re-priced probability that the full 8-ball pattern still completes.
Sequence
How a freeze plays out
1. Event detected
The player is snookered or the vision system scores the next shot above the difficulty threshold.
2. FREEZE called
The player raises a hand and calls "FREEZE" to the referee. One freeze per player, per pattern.
3. 45-second standstill
The referee confirms and the 45-second clock starts. No table contact, no coaching. The 3-minute pattern timer is unaffected.
4. Market generated
Trading suspends, the freeze market is generated within 15 seconds, and a 30-second betting window opens.
5. Resume & settle
At zero the pattern resumes. Freeze bets stand and settle automatically against the outcome of the forced shot.
The fine print
Freeze rule conditions
Who can call it
Only the player at the table, before addressing the cue ball.
Frequency
One freeze per player per pattern; maximum two freezes per pattern.
Duration
Exactly 45 seconds, shown on the broadcast countdown.
Market generation
Freeze market published within 15 seconds of the call.
Betting window
30 seconds of open trading inside the freeze.
Pattern timer
The player's 3-minute pattern timer is paused and unaffected.
Table contact
No touching cue ball, object balls, rests or rack during the freeze.
Coaching
No coaching, no communication with team or crowd.
Referee power
The referee may deny an unwarranted freeze call and issue a warning.
Settlement
Freeze bets settle on the same rules as standard in-play bets, on the resumed shot.