Blackball pool in Zimbabwe

Blackball is the international form of eight-ball pool played across Zimbabwe, the UK, Ireland and much of Africa — the game on the small tables you find in bars and clubs, played with unnumbered red and yellow balls and a black. It differs from American eight-ball, which uses numbered solids and stripes on a larger table, in its equipment, its fouls and its two-shot carry rules.

The Cue Masters Pool League plays blackball competitively across Harare, Norton, Chitungwiza and Nyabira, with 18 clubs and 1243 registered players.

• 16 single frames per match, one table, played on Saturdays from 4pm.
• The home captain names players first; the home team breaks first.
• Frame 5 is reserved for women players. If a side has no woman available that week, they must field a player aged 45 or over.
• At least five players from each side must be present before a match can start.
• Every player must be on the league register and carry a league Player ID.
• The home captain reports the result to the League Secretary; results become official only once ratified.

Play is governed by the league's constitution and handbook, which cover eligibility, postponements, discipline and the conduct of matches.

CMPL Constitution 2026 — PDF, 0.7 MB