The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-16
B ILLIA r D S .
Great Match for tho Championship Of Eng
lsh Billiards Roberts Loses the
Championship.

LONDON, Dec. l. 1870.
Once more the championship OF the English game
OF billiards has changed hands. and John II oberts
Jr. after having held 1t but few months. has been
compelled to resign it to Joseph Bennett 1t may be
remembered that the billiard trophy was instituted in
the commencement of the present year. AT that
time John Roberts, Sr.--so well known In America
was acknowledged as the bess player OF the English
game and 1t was agreed that il ne could be beaten
by his challenger, William Cook young
man of twenty-five, who had made the spot
Btroke the study Of his life, and In those
kactics had acquired exceptional brllancy, he
Bh0uld not again come into the Held. At conven.
lion OF billiard players 1t was also decided that 10
increase at the dicnty OF and the interest In
nhe payand raise its scientific value pockets
ah0uld be reduced IN width from three three
quarters to three inches, and that the distance be-
tween the spot and the upper cushion should be de-
creased from fourteen TO tweiva and half inches.
rhe first championship contest took place last Feb
ruary at st. James Hall, In the presence Of the
Prince Of Wales and one OF the largest and most
fashionable audiences ever assembled on such an
occasion or that match 1t is sufficient now to say
shat Cook, playing with the utmost care, ere leng
held lead OF 200 anu seemed 10 have 50 great q
chance that 100 to seven was bet on him; that by
series Of the most brilliant strokes Roberts con-
trived TO make up his leeway, and headed his OPP
ponent LOAF; and that finally, BY his ever
wecning confidence, he threw away the game.
Cook was Immediately challenged bv the fallen
champions son. also named John, who met HIM In
the same hall few months later, and having in the
pnterim lived prudenty-he ls unfortunately much
given to drink-and practised assiduousy, while
Cook on the other hand though Of the steadlest
Rnd most respectable Of our billiard players, had
wasted mis- strength IN exhibition matches. beat him
Bowler, OF Brighton, but the latter had taken too
high an estimate OF hiS powers and never had q
Cnance. Lastly the gauntlet was thrown down TO
him BY Joseph Bennett, an exceedingly quiet, de-
cent young Fellow, VINO has long been known as an
excellent all round player; and who last week
from Cook not fewer than SIX out Of
aght entertainment matches, each Of 100 up.
two ana three to one on Roberts; but the odds
gradually decreased, until on Monday last before
the play commenced, no more than even money
could be had Benefits rise IN favor was due In
great measure, TO his capital play with Cook; but
also to the conviction, which has become stronger
and stronger with every contest since these matches
were instituted, that on the championship tables the
spot stroke Is style OF play which becomes DIM
consequently compelled to fall back on the legiti-
mate ali round play which - so popular in America,
asnect sasea having a gn reputation IN tins
even with so renowned cuest as John Roberts, Jr
Ihe friends OF the latter were the more anxious
eoout hiIn, as they knew from his own confession
Hhat he had been drunk two evenings before, and
was In an excited and nervous state.
y Wnen play commenced Roberts opened favOrite at
1--WE t0four, and he gave the first miss in baulk BEN
nett did otto under the side and each gave another
safety miss Roberts got up to 49, but Bennett soon
pverhauled him, and with run Of II managed TO
FcOre 40 70 ms opponents 49, and when he was IS to
tne Otner's ~ an even twenty pounds was bet and
eeverai Other transactions al the same odds. Rob
ert however, putting together two breaks OF IS and
rs soon became favorite against sixty pounds TO fifty
pounds on MN, and when, with another good run
O 80, ne reached l06 to Benefits los 9l20 to flOO
was 0hered freely and the disposition to back the
champion was very marked. Up to this point the
game nad been slow, many easy strokes being
missed cy both men, and little worth notice Occur red
nntli A., Bennett sen was at 249. Roberts added 27
20 his 1913, and broke down at an easy carrom
good 30 brought Bennett tn 307 against his ad YER
Earys 236, and he became favorite for the first
tlme thirty Live pounds to twenty pounds being laid
on nlm After capital break by Roberts OF 10 the
nterval TOOK place, with the men standing then Ben
pett 50S, Roberts 1854. rs by the champion a IS
py Bennett and % by Roberts brought about specu-
tation at nifty pounds to twenty-five pounds but
esennett Kept on, and reached 700 to the
Df his play seemed to increase as the game went
on. break or Al In particular "bringIng down the
rouse." Roberts, however, followed with A. ana
MS o., w htch came soon after, was the run OF the
evening and Inc uded some magnificent shots. Ben
steadily, and Notwithstanding all the dash and
lire OF his opponent, In which the latter maze
mp great deal OF his lee-way, won, after o
magnificent finish by 95 points out OF the 1000 up.
Hhe winner never "turned q hair" all night, being
ns calm when his adversary was passing him as
when he himself was couple OF hundred ahead,
pnd he never threw away chance, playing for
safety whenever there appeared TO be the slightest
risk Of his failing. Roberts, on the other hand, with
q far more excltabe temperament and with q Ger.
tain contempt Tor Bennett attempted to do by sheer
bold skill what the latter did by prudence and sig
Aay failed. That ne is the better player, leaving
courage and GOODNESS out OF sight, have no doubt;
but without these very requisite qualities do not
Bee how he Is ever to beat Bennett