The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-07
Willie Hoppe Makes Big Offer
for Billiard Game.
Scbaefer Glasses $4,000 Chal-
lenge as Ridiculous.
THE RISK is TOO GREAT
Surprise of the "BaIk Line "
Surrender to Sutton.
Some Think the 1871 Game
Should Be Abolished.

chicago, Jan. 7.-Willie Hoppe sur
s9ised the billiard world last week by
S%s<eiting the 1871 balk line champion
SNIP title and trophy to George Sutton
of this city, and several days later his
father added to the surprise by offering
to back his boy against any expert in
the world to play a three nights ses-
sion for $4,000 a side.
Hoppe had been challenged by Sutton
and had practically accepted, but in
stead of posting his forfeit as required
he notified the donors of the trophy
and his challenger that he had accepted
an enga cement to play in an Amster-
dam billiard academy. His father sta
ted, as an excuse for Willie'S sudden
change of mind, that the boy could n9t
get a game in this country. Then 1ol-
lowed his $4,000 challenge. Speaking
Of the latter, Jake Schaefer said:
There is not a billiard player in the
world who would risk that amount or
money on a game, even if he possessed
that much wealth, so Pa Hopes chal-
lenge is ridiculous.
Furthermore, no lover or the game,
save a big bookmaker or gambler, would
care to risk that amount of cash ana
then divide, should he win, with the
player he had backed. That would be
laying odds of 2 to 1, a short price for
time when / commanded backing for
that amount, still I always advised
playing for $500 a side, and If my back
ers cared to bet thousands on my win
ming they were at liberty to do so. The
largest side bet ever played for was
s., 500. played Billy Sexton at cushion
caroms for that amount and lost. l also
played for the same amount with Frank
Ives at Central Music hall, a 5000 point
match at 14.2 and won. My six nights
match with Cure, the Frenchman, was
for $1,000 a side and I took down the
money" SO
Continuing, Schaefer said: ST still
maintain that one night match OF
500 points does not demonstrate who
is the better player. All of the big
matches took part in covered three
or more nights. In short sessions the
best player may lose his stroke, say
for half dozen innings, and if the
inferior player, during that spell OF his
opponents hard luck, should be in
good stroke he could gain winning
lead.
s'In a long session the unfortu-
nate player of the first nights play
may regain his stroke and beat out an
inferior opponent"
Schaefer dislikes the 1871 game and
says 1t ought to be abolished. He
1t too difficult even for the
champions and not entertaining to the
Spectators. The style of game, he
thinks, is better fitted for the 14-inch
lines for players and spectators alike.
However, he says he will challenge
Sutton for the 1871 and 1871 cham
plOnSnlpS, when sutton now nOtuS. VI
the 1872 challenge depends on
the outcome of Sutton's match game
with Ora Morningstar, which is to be
played at Orchestra hall on Jan. 81.
Jake leaves for st. Louis tonight to
play in one of the academies in that
city.
Ora Morningstar is expected in the
city the latter part of this week and,
Jan. IA, will play six ex-
hibition games at Mussey's with Cal
vim Demarest, the local amateur. Ora
Will play 500 points against Demar-
sst's 800 each night at 1872. Sutton is
for the match at his Adams
street and Wabash avenue rooms.
Demarest is in good form at pres
ent and his admirers hope to see him
make a better showing against Morn
Ingstar than he did against Cure
whom he played under the same con-
dition last spring.