The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-05
SUTTON is NOW
BILLIARD KING
Willie Hoppe, the Boy Wonder,
Forfeits 1871 and 1872
Championships.
HOPPE OFF FOR HOLLAND
Didn't Like Being Handled by
"the Trust" and So Kicked
Over Traces.
HOPPE OFF FOR HOLLAND

NEW YORK, January 4.--George suit
ton. Of Chicago, Is now tho 1871 and 1872
billiard champion Of the world. and he is
the first player in the history of the balls
line game and its variations to hold both
titles at the same time. He holds the title
for the former game by reason of Willie
Hopes default. and the other as a result
of his victory in the tournament at
Madison Square Garden some time ago
The former 1871 champion relinqutshed
the trophy yesterday, it Is said. and
according to present intentions. Will leave
for Holland in short time to play in the
most prominent academy in Amsterdam.
Willie Hoppe, who electrified the bill
Hard world year ago this month by
winning the 1871 trophy from Maurice
Nignaix in Paris, yesterday issued a
statement in which he vaguely insInuated
that the conduct of billiard matches in
this country is In the hands of corpora
ton. which uses the events as an adver-
tisement Of Its wares. In every line of
Hopes statement can be detected a
note of dissatisfaction with the condi-
tons under which he has been Obliged
to play since his victory over Vignaux.
Hoppe asserts that he did not fail TO
cover Sutton's challenge for fear of los
Ing the honors he had won. but because
recent matches in which he has taken
part did not attract profitable gatherings
and that he cannot exist without deriv-
ing financial benefit from his exhibitions
of his skill at the game of billiards. AS
evidence of his confidence, he offers to
play Sutton or any other billiardist a
three nights match for $1,000, presum-
ably at the 1s.1 style of play. Hoppe
concludes his statement by asserting that
he Is still the 1871 champion of the world
The trouble leading up to Hopes re-
lnquishment of his trophy began on his
return from Paris after he had defeated
Vignaux. The boy had gone abroad under
contract to the concern that appears to
have appropriated to itself the manage
ment of billiards in America and the
agreement called for certain number
of exhibitions at places to be selected
by his employers. However fair the
terms may have appeared to him before
his trip abroad when he returned as
champion of the world he became dis
satisfied with this part of the contract.
and considerable friction resulted. Later
on. when the 1872 tournament was ar
RANGED Hoppe again kicked over the
traces, and, after announcing that he
would not play, consented to enter the
contests.
AS matters stand now, Sutton will
probably have to defend both his titles
in short order from the various American
masters. He has tentative arrange
ment to play Morningstar a match for
the 1872 championship within the next
few weeks. it having been intended to
get this match out of the way before the
now abandoned meeting with Hoppe.
Sutton is not considered nearly as eX-
pert at the open table ISL game as
Schaefer or Slosson, and that he can hold
the honors gained by Hopes default
for more than few months seems I'M
likely Billiard enthusiasts had conf
IDENTIFY looked forward to Hopes VIC
tory. and the general opinion will now
be that either Schaefer or Slosson can
gain honors at the premier game If they
desire to try.