The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-12
A BOY BILLIARD WONDER.
WILLIE HOPPE, AGED N, LOOKED
o., As THE COHIy8 CHAMPION.

M,uric. Daily and Other Professional Play
.rs Surprised by His skill ut the Game
Began as an Infant Phenomenon
Mt Pool II Some of HIS Achievements.
II you went among any group Of billiard players
in this city and told them that five years from
now a lad Of 10 would be the champion billiard
player Of tho world they would be apt TO laugh
at you and ask you to produce your phenomenon.
Yet no less an authority than Maurice DAILY be-
lieves this 10 be true. Al all the championship
games between Slosson and Schaefer last week,
a fair haired, blur-cyed little boy Of III occu-
pied a corner seat In all u their audiences
the two giants Of billiards had no more exacting
critic than this youngs,cr His eye followed
every play. and he was among the first to applaud
q successful carom. q sufficient masse or well.
executed open table shot II would have sur
prised some Of the wcll-known followers Of the
game present had they known that in this boy
they would fnd opponent hard TO beat
His name is Willie Hoppe, and II billiard players
are born, certainly genius for the game Is pos
sessed by this boy He can do more with a cue In
a minute than 90 out OF 100 blliardists can do In
Ave. lie is equally good at all styles Of the game.
playing II and Is inch balk line, cushion caroms
or straight il.billiards with steadiness and
accuracy His knowledge OF angles and the
eccentncies Of English is remarkable. In his
ished tradition Of the billiard player, which iswhy
Mr.. DAILY feels himself safe in asserting that at
10 Hoppe will outclass any man in the world
at the game.
Willie Hoppe was born at Comwall.on-
the Hudson and was II years old on Oct.
II. His father kept hotel there. and in the bar.
room there was one II those old. line pool tables
to he found in country hotels. and of more
use for crap shooting than for accurate pool play
ing Willie couldn't let the pool table alone after
he was years old lie wanted TO plnv all the
time His game was rnthcr Allow one because
he had TO follow the cue bali with chair II being
necessary for him 10 elevate himself in order to
see across the top Of the table. After he had been
playing for SIX weeks he could nut down eight
balls regularly once tho pyramid was broken.
His older brother Flank was also a natural pool
playrr and can heat Willie ut the game 10 day,
hut then. Willie is dcyotnG himself entirely 10
billiards now, and al that game he is Franks
master
When Willie was O. his father took him and his
brother on a tour around the country. The boys
gave exhibitions Of pool playing that amazed
sire to try his hand AT billiards and showed uch
ability that his father derlded never TO allow him
10 play pool again: Without the advantage Of
expert coaching. Willie set out to establish a
record at straight-rail billia rds for himself He
got the balls running Ia suit him one night and
when he quit he had made 40 shots without a
mise lie might have gone on indciln tcly. but
nature rrbelled and he went TO bel an exhausted
boy. Straight-rail bia was child's play to
boy who could tear oil points Mt this gait, so vii.
lie went in for balk line lie go, Ia whore he could
run from iort% 10 sixty at this most difficult game
the Palatinc Hotel at Newburg . At l2inch bak
line. on = ~, by 9 foot table. he made run Of o.
which stands today az his record at this game
The highest cushion caro- run he has made -
2S and his best aver. re IL 3, surprising record
for one Of his youth and ineNpc-icncc. A few
days ago Willie's father brought him 10 this city
and made him play for Maurice DAILY Mr. DAILY
had Willie bS a pool player, but was dunn
founded at his bil'ia d play.
You could have knocked me down with a
feather said Mr. DAILY, when that child went
at a game OF u inch balk line and ran 90 at il
with as little difficulty as would make ten.
Mt H9rpc has turned I Willie over u Mr DAILY.
afternoon Willie gave an exhibition II his skill
70 some Of Mr. Days friends lie began by max
baik line, on by 10 foot table lie then gave
exhibition Of rail nursing, carrying the balls
around the table The boy touch was won
There is scarcely anything | can teach the
boy" said Mr. DAILY TO SCN reporter. -He hns
ainoylsdge Of ,hs game that hcNildey1 me. OUT,
piicatc ,ha, rail nurse Of his and hes only II
% Ss T p"H %. he & s s." s s
those who sec him as AT everything Else. Al the
follow, and especially ,he hal follow, he rarely
Of accuracy Ills position mi play is cxcslsn, bn,
will be improved with practice He plays now
strong, accurate game never getting in the
fusion over a miss His weakness at prcscn, Is
inability N reach across the table lie will not
use bridge. and hall q his shots arc played sit
Is playing billiards. lie hns Kept up his corncc
ton with the, public school. a, Cornwall L ch
last year he passed with ~ r"r cert. the best
showing made by any hor in The class