Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-03
WORK FOR WIZARDS OF THE CUE
busy Days Ahead for the Men who
PInT billiards.

NEW YORK, Jan. BUSY times for the
professional billiard players will soon be
at hand. Besides the 1879 balk line tourna-
ment. there probably will be matches be-
tween Jake Schaefer. willie" Hoppe.
George Slosson and George Sutton. and also
matches between a number of shortstop
players, which will include TON" Gal
lagher, Ora Morningsbar, Mclaughlin, Cut
Ter and Cline
1t is possible that before the big matches
come off in March the contestants will be
asked to pass on a contemplated change
in the rules governing future champion
ship matches of the 1s.2-inch balk line
game. There is some talk that the length
of the championship matches may be in
creased from one nights play to two or
three nights, and those who favor the
change are of the opinion that these games
will be heightened from 500 points to at
least 1900. and II the prominent players
agree to this the rules will be modified.
Sutton has begun active training for his
match with George Slosson at 1871, which
will be played late this month.
This event will be the Madison Square
Garden concert hall tournament. The en-
tries will be limited to six. and II Hoppe
does not enter the probable contestants will
be Jake" schaefer, George Sutton. George
Slosson, Calvin Demarest. Ora Morningside
and Albert Cutler. Purse money to the
amount of 5000 will be hung up. together
with $500 entry fees for each player and
the gate receipts. The winner will get 80
per cent and the three who finish next to
him will receive %. Is and 10 per cent, re-
spectively. Each game will consist of 400
points, all ties to be played off. The win
ner must defend his title against all chal-
lenges.
The amateur players are also making
plans for some championship matches.
Now that Calvin Demarest. the former in
ternational champion, has turned profess
sional 1t leaves the Association OF Anna
teur Billiard Players in a peculiar position.
Last year Demarest won both the national
and international championship, but when
he decided to turn professional he re-
turned both championship trophies to
the amateur association. Under conditions
the cups would go TO the players who fin
ished second in two tournaments. but as
the date OF the Glass A tournament Is so
near at hand the two trophies remain with
the board of directors of the Associa-
ton of Amateur Billiard Players until after
the two tournaments.
AS Demarest outclassed all his opponents.
there was very little encouragement for
amateur players to compete in the Glass A
tournament. but with Demarest out of the
way new life will be instilled into the
amateur tournament, and as n result sew
eral OF the most promising young players
will enter into the tournament. Lucien
Rerolle, who finished second to Demarest
last year. is likely to return to this coun-
try in the spring and make another effort
to carry the championship trophy back to
Billiard Players will shortly be held to de-
France.
A meeting Of the Association NJ Amateur
termine the location and the date for the
matches. New York will be selected for
one and It Is probable that both tourna-
ments will be held in this city.