The morning call., 1893-06-26

Of the English game. go over here and
beat Roberts. The whole point of the
matter was that Roberts was taken in Oh
that Jaw play in the corner. The Jaw
is unknown on the usual English ia BILE
with the usual English ball 1-16th inches
In diameter, because the pocket entrances
are SO wide that the balls never Jaw But
Ives worked his game very cleverly by
getting Roberts to agree to the use of
balls "a inches wide and pocket entran ces
narrower than usual, and so all Ives had
to do was to work a jaw and run all day.
Under ordinary circumstances in the Eng
llsh game Ives would not be in it with
Roberts, who can give any other player in
England. even Peall, the phenomen nal
'spot-stroke' player. one-third in a
game. In fact. 1t is out of reason
play the American game can beat him.
Roberts went into that game without KIN wv
ing anything about the law and it has
probably dawned on him that II would be
good idea to bar it. and presume it will
be barred in the game he is to play in July
with Ives.
They bar the spot stroke in England,
for it is budding for any good player,
Just as we have barred the Jaw and rail
playing in this country.
Yes, Ives beat me in 1891 for the cham
pionshp trophy that had won three years
in succession, but he has never dared to
meet me since. The game was for My 800
points. and L never played in such bad
condition. Always before thai game was
handicapped In playing withsIves. That
was the only game we ever played even,
and have been trying ever since to get n
game out of him. but he prefers to live off
the reputation he made then.
Il have even gone over to Paris to try to
get match with him. For long time he
Rrh
erts as an excuse, and in order to avoid
me put it off several times. I have made
direct challenges to him three or four
times-in fact, every time l could get an
opportunity. but he always sneaks away
and | am satisfied does not want to play.
However, he can't get out Of meeting me
some time. II we make a match it will
probably be for about 5000 points.
Il am, and have been for long time.
ready to play any one at any game OF
billiards, except the English game. don't
propose to claim q championship that |
am not ever ready to maintain. l am not
resting on my past laurelS. but shall be
ready to give up the championship to any
one who can win it from me.
"A sporting correspondent for an Eng
llsh paper, writing before the Roberts
Ives game came off, and not knowing of
Ives little joker in changing the size of the
balls and pockets SO as to work the law. ;
said:
There is no doubt wha tever that John
Roberts is the greatest billiard player par
excellence that the world has ever seen.
and as there is no one who can meet him
on level terms and make respectable fight
OF it, we are never likely to see exactly
what he can do when he is extended.
After all, this is only sort of hybrid COM
petition. The American cannot play on a
regulation English table. so he has the size
of the pockets reduced and that of the balls
increased. and Roberts must not play the
spot stroke (of course that is no use to an
American or a Frenchman) nor use the
push stroke, which is such a chief factor ia
his big breaks. 1t is my idea that il YOU
tied one of Roberts hands behind his back,
baGdaged up one eye, made him stand or,
one leg and play with the wrong end OF
the cue he would still be a match for any
one"