The most common pool game played in the United States is 8-ball. The game is played on 7 feet long tables. In the United Kingdom, 8-ball is generally played in pubs and is contested in numerous official pool competitions. The game is also played at the world championship tournament governed by the International Association of Pool.

Bank pool, another variation of pool billiards, has been growing in popularity in recent years. Bank pool may be played with a full set of balls, but is more commonly played with only nine balls - the balls are positioned in 9-ball manner, but without a particular order. The aim of the game is plain: to become the first player who banks 5 balls in whichever order.

9-Ball belongs to the class of pool games and is one of the rotation games with the 1-9 balls used. 9-Ball is the major professional pool game. There are numerous local and regional pool competitions contested with 9-Ball. However, as of 2005, there is no particular official body of the 9-ball game. Most pool competitions are contested with a "Texas Express" version or the World Pool Association's rules. The largest 9-ball competitions are the self-governing US Open Pool Championship and the 9-Ball World Championships for male and female players. Professional male players have a rather patchy schedule of professional pool competitions at this time. Women, however, have a stable professional circuit governed by the Professional Women's Billiard Association.

The year of 2005 marked the 30th Year U.S. Open Pool Championship. It took place from September 19 until September 25, 2005. This event was held over again in Chesapeake, Virginia, at the stunning Chesapeake Conference Center.

The US Open is the greatest run and the most prestigious pool competition in the world. The event is limited to 256 participants. The entry fee is U.S. $500.00, and the total revenue is either U.S. $50,000.00 or U.S. $72,000.00 with the full playing field of 256 players.

The 2005 tournament comfortably accommodated over 1,000 spectators with VIP seating and general admission. General admission tickets cost $10.00 per session with two sessions per day of the competition. Day session was 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Evening session match times were 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m. and occasionally 1 a.m. VIP seating tickets varied from U.S. $120.00 to $200.00 in anticipation of arrival dates and they went on sale April 8th.

US Open Pool Championship Winners
1976 -- Mike Sigel
1977 -- Allen Hopkins
1978 -- Steve Mizerek
1979 -- Louie Roberts
1980 -- Mike Sigel
1981 -- Allen Hopkins
1982 -- David Howard
1983 -- Mike Sigel
1984 -- Earl Strickland
1985 -- Jimmy Reid
1986 -- David Howard
1987 -- Earl Strickland
1988 -- Mike Le'Bron
1989 -- Nick Varner
1990 -- Nick Varner
1991 -- Buddy Hall
1992 -- Tommy Kennedy
1993 -- Earl Strickland
1994 -- Efren Reyes
1995 -- Reed Pierce
1996 -- Rodney Morris
1997 -- Earl Strickland
1998 -- Buddy Hall
1999 -- Johnny Archer
2000 -- Earl Strickland
2001 -- Corey Deuel
2002 -- Ralf Souquet
2003 -- Jeremy Jones
2004 -- Gabe Owen.