The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-03-27
PLAY FOR WORLDS
CHAMP |0NSH|P
TONIGHT
Student" slosson Matched
Willie Hoffe, "Boy Won
der" of New York.

New York. March 27-Devotees of
the 'gentleman's. game" are on edge
in anticipation of the worlds cham
pionship billiard match between
George Slosson, the student" and
Willie Hoppe. the "boy wonder" The
contest is to be played in Madison
Square Garden concert hall tonight
and It will be the first championship
match played In this country since
1901, when Schaefer won the title.
For weeks past the two players have
been getting into condition for the
championship contest and the practice
work shows that each is In splendid
form. Both the veteran and the
youngster have a host of ardent ad-
mirers who are willing to bet on the
success of their favorite and great
amount of money is sure to change
hands TN the result of the game. It
is a significant fact, however, that the
professional experts, almost without
execution, pick Hoppe to win. This
has led to the boy being made a favor
lite In the betting at odds of 10 to s.
Tonighls contest IS to be a $50 pom;
game for $500 a side. and the cham
pionship emblem, which Hoppe won
fromVignaux in Paris. The match
will be at eighteen-inch balk line. one
shot in.
The match has attracted more than
the usual amount of interest which
centers in a championship contest,
which fact is due largely to the dis
parity in the ages of the contestants
and their years of experience Hoppe
is still under twenty years of age,
while Slosson is over fifty. The latter
has taken part in more than fifty
matches and tournaments. 1t was in
October, 1870, that he made his first
appearance in public. He was beaten
by a player named Dennison at the old
four-ball game. Through all the en-
suing transitions of the game he has
held his own, keeping up his end at
straight rail, the champions game,
cushion caroms and the different balk
line distances. His last big contest
was in the 1872 championship in Paris
in 1908, when he. finished last to Cure,
Sutton and Vignaux. An ocean trip
and poor health upset him in that
tourney. He won the 1871 champion
ship from Schaeffer, Ives, DAILY and
Sutton in 1897, and tied with Barutel
for second money in the 1871 tourney
of 1901.
Hoppe made his formal debut in pub
lie less than five years ago at Days
academy in this city. 1t was handi-
cap affair at 1872, the other players
being Orlando Morningstar, Tom Cal
lagher, Edward Mclaughlin and Or
tiz, the Spaniard. The handicaps were
Hoppe, 200 points; Gallagher, Nc
Laughlin and Morningstar, 300 each,
ana Ortiz, 225. Hoppe won all four
of his games and did not suffer de-
feat. In the brief space of five years
he has advanced in billiard proficien-
cy that to men from whom he accepted
odds he can give odds. In 1904, in
Paris, Hoppe won the championship
of the "young masters" at the 1872
game, defeatings every one of his
rivals. Barring an exhibition in which
he defeated Albert Cutler of Boston
and tour with Schaeffer, he did no
public playing again until January IS
last, when he jumped to the champion
ship by defeating Vignaux, the cele-
brated French champion.
The first worlds championship at
the 1S.1 style of play was decided in
the Madison Square Garden concert
hall, from November 20 to December
4, 1897. the games being of 500 points
Slosson. with a grand average of 9.3!
and high run of 81, was returned
the winner with four victories to his
credit. Schaefer was second, with
three games won, his grand average
being 9.29 and his high run IS. Frank
G. ives was third, with two games
won. His high run was 40, best sin
gle. average 1925, and grand average
1895. Maurice Daily was fourth, with
one victory, grand average of us
and a high run of 70. George Sutton
did not win game.
The second worlds championship at
1871 was played in the same place from
December 2 to 10, 1901. 1t was the
public debut of Leon Barutel, Orc
Morningstar and Leonard Howison ir
first-class competition The games
were 500 points each. and, Schaefer
was the victor of the tournament. He
won five games. had high run Of 6S
and made grand average of 7.78.
Slosson was second with three VIC
tories, high run of As and a grand
average of 7.97. Barutel was third
with three games won, high run of
AZ and grand average of 6.19. SUIT
tim won two games, Morningstar and
HOwison one each.
Schaefer and Slosson played the
first individual championship at the
1871 game at the Madison Square Gar
den concert hall February S, 1898.
Schaefer won by 600 to 500. The win
ner's average was 7.41 and high run