When did this come about?

In tournaments, I mean.

Edited at 18:42 Sat 6/01/07 (GMT)

It didn't. Well it certainly wasn't when I went out of the 2pm.

I think you're talking about 9ball (non-pro) which is a race to three in tournies because it can be a very quick game. The final is a race to 4.

Ya, you're right, I wrote down the wrong one. And now that I think about it, 9 ball tournaments are new (as oppoosed to the "old" 9 ball, which is now rebranded 9 ball pro), so I guess you can say they've been first to 3 from the start.