New-York tribune., 1905-11-27
BILLIARD STARS TO MEET.
Final Contest for amateur Gold
Cup WiU Begin Tonight.

-r,-,;.,+ at tho ISe6erbranz Club No. III East
5Sth-st Charles f. Conklin, Edward w. Gafoher
and J. Ferdinand Poggenburg, three OF the pese
amateur billiard players Of the country, Will pc
ein nIav in a three-cornered tournament, which
will decide once and for all the ownership OF lhe
Eagle gold cup, offered several years ago as en-
benatic of the national amateur billiard chalh-
pionship Of the United States.
The original conditions under which the trophy
was offered in 1901 called for three successive VIC
tories by one player to win the cup outright Ihese
conditions subsequently modified however
to two wins not necessarily consecutive Inc frst
tournament was held five years ago at the Hano-
yer Club, in Brooklyn, and resulted In Victory
for Arthur W. Townsend, who represented the
home club. Among the competitors was FRANK "a
Keeney OF Brooklyn, who after left the anna
teur ranks. and Frank Gardner at that time the
Crescent Athletic Club champion
Edward w. Gardner the second tournament
in 1902 which was also held at the Hanover Club,
and Wilson P. Foss was the winner in 1903 at the
Hanover Club. J. Ferdinand Poggenburg won
a leg on the cup the next year. at the Liederkranz
Club. and last winter, at Chicago CharleS r.
Conklin beat out classy field Thus, in five sue
cessive annual tournaments, different player has
been returned each year the winner The chafn-
pionship of the National Association OF Amateur
trophy each year.
This year the national association decided to Of
fer a new trophy for competition under somewhat
different conditions, so it was decided TO hoId a
preliminary tournament which only the five Win
ners of the cup would be eligible and thus to dis
pose Of the Eagle gold cup for good The cham
pionship title therefore does not go to the winner
of the trophy this year. The tide will be played
for next March at the Chicago Athletic Association
rooms in Chicago.
The tournament which begins to-I-tght has. there
fore, FIVE eligbles. namely: Townsend, Gardner
Foss Poggenburg and Conklin- The latter, VINO
won last winter is the holder Of the national anna
teur billiard championship. Townsend, the first
TO win a leg on the cup, has been out of the game
for the last three years. FCss, who won in 1858,
and when In form was easily the best player who
has ever competed for the trophy, is likewise out
Of practice at present, and did not care TO enter
This left only three-Gardner, Poggenburg and
Conklin-to contest Dr. Leonsdas L. Mial and
Charles E. Norris have played in former tourna-
ments. but never won, SO are not englple' - bd
fought as the trio is evenly matched and each
is naturally anxious to capture the cup Conkln
m MEM var Alter Year since the series started
piaying faster billiards There is little to choose
between Poggenburg and Gardner as each plays E
most nsaed 9d Of the weFe at the
rIITb last night nntting in finishing touches In
the tournament Conklin viii represent the Ghcago
db of Passaio j. % and PdggenbuTg the ede
kaz cqb The sb end scbee IoT the with eaoh
player meeting the two other players twice rms
Toundg T ea9 W s6 be E5lSd paSsd until IN the winner de-
cided Al OF the games Will be dgf o5ed S IN baIk
Edward Mclaughlin, who has refereed most OF the
former tournments. will give the decisions.
Poggenburg and Gardner will open the tourna-
roenf nj $50 tonight Tomorrow night the loser
viii play Conkin. and on "wednesday night Conklin a
will meet the winner. The rest Of the schedule
will depend on the of the first three games
but the same order is likely to be repeated inc
club has set aside Friday night for the women
to watch the matches. The sixth game. on Satur-
day will be played in the afternoon.
The billiard committee of the Liederkranz Club
has had special billiard table set up in the music
room for the match to be played on. No ADMISSION
viii be charged, but those who wish to see the
games must have cards of admission. These may
he obtained by applying to j. Ferdinand Poggen-
burg chairman Of the Iiederkranz Club biiliard
committee. or Lincoln Brunn, secretary Conhlln
is staving at the club during the tournament
In practice play for the tournament, Poggenpurg
has been averaging high and making numerous
long runs. for which he Is famous. Gardner. TOO,
has shown the best of form, while Conklin, II ~ ~
reported put up a grand average OF close TO ~
in a long series of games before he left Chicago,
In the championship tournament last winter at
Chicago which Conklin won. Gardner finished
third, while Poggenburg was forced to drop out on
account of a summons back to New-York.