New-York tribune., 1907-03-03

championship: J. Ferdinand Poggenburg. Of this
city and Charles F. Conklin. OF Chicago-have each
previously the title. and PoEgenburg the gold
cup outright which long in dispute DR.
LeonGas l. Mial, of this city is also n veteran as
a tournament player. Calvin Demarest. Of the Chi
cago Athletic Association, made his debut last year
and the present championship marks his first ap-
pearance in the East. The other aspirant. r Nor
timer s Rolls. Of the Belmont Cricket club Phil
adelphia, has won many honors in his home city,
but this tournament marks his initial effort toward
national honors.
Many New York and Chicago billiard experts are
sanguine that Demarest will win the title While
they have high opinion OF Conklin and expect
him 10 make clever stand. they inclined to
pin their faith TO Demarest. whose game this year
has been OF superior quality. For that matter
the billiard enthusiasts not alone in their good
opinion 20 Demarest's ability. as there are many
students of the game who believe that he is the
coming player OF the United States.
Demarest is only nineteen years Of age. and the
youngest in experience who has attempted TO win
age as Willie Hoppe. and his position in amateur
billiards is somewhat analogous to that OF Hoppe
among the professionals. When Ora Morningstar
was In Chicago practising with Demarest prior TO
the recent worlds championship match with SUIT
ton. the young Chcagoan gave an idea of his speed
by the fine average that he made in the Is ? game
The impression prevails that J. Ferdinand Pog-
Genhurg, the Liederkranz Club player. is stronger
IN his game this winter than he has been for a
long time II is his great ambition 10 win the title
He was not always had the best OF luck when play
ing for il, and if nothing his chances
this time his friends believe that he will make the
best showing in his career amateur. Poggen-
burBs style and optimistic disposition are both
greatly in his favor 1t takes more to disconcert
him than II does some contestants for the cham
pionshlp, and he can face bad break of the baI
with more equanimty than others OF the high class
amateurs.
w Gardner , the Passac IN j expert is an
other OF the six contestants who will begin the
series TN good form Gardners steadness is well
Known and perhaps no entered can follow an
opponent more persistenty to the score. He has
won other championships largely by his ability To
set by his opponents and he has frequently cut
down long leads by his steadiness under conditions
l@hat @ would nave daunted player with less conf
Conklin. the other Chicago player must not bc
CVeflopkea, as ne Is playing good game this win
ter ana II luck condescends To run a BIT his wav
opponent FOR every man whom he meets il was
the doughty Conllin who. in the DAYS of Knicker1
booker Athletic club tournaments. won MANY of his
matches by single point. ~
DR.. Mial must be taSCr. into considera I'M, nc =
possibility 50 far as the mere technique OF billiards
Is concerned there Is of the six who has anI,
9dVantaSe over MN Occasionally he is governed
by impulse and his game suffers a trihe In con
sequence His skill Is uneuestioned and - os =
manipulator Of the balls in difficult Dosifops b -
as expert as any amateur in the CITY He has h.oS
seems 20 be on to his game - 'N
In many respects the tournament pron,isee 20 ~
held and zest has been added to IL bv the fect 6
Demarest is one of the contestants "i
Inc matches VIII be 800 points a haILltna
with the anchor barred. All of the contestants
and signed the rules agreement Ed1yar5 NJ 81
Laughlin will act referee. N NJ