In 1910, Jerome Keough invented straight pool as a way to increase the challenge over previous continuous games.
The event was revived in 2006, in part to restore straight pool's popularity in the United States.
Ralph Greenleaf and Willie Mosconi are the most successful players having both won the tournament on 19 occasions.
The oldest player to win the tournament is Irving Crane at 59 years old at the time of his victory.
[4] The finals match is further extended to a race to 300 points (with a half-hour break occurring when a player reaches 150).