The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-02-20
HOPPE CLOSER TO
BILLIARD TITLE
Great improvement Shown in
Match With Morningstar,
Averaging 81 ~.
SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT
HOPPE l0AFED AT TIMES
Schaefer Is Considered the
Wizard of All Billiard
Players.
BY WILLIE HOPPE.

By WILLIE HOPPE.
The billiard situation cleared very ap-
preciably as a result Of the recent
matches. The victory OF Cline over
Dcmarest. and my success in my match
with Morn!nGstar brings me little closer
TO chance 10 compete FOR TIE lS.2 title.
II Is true that Albert Cutler Will be
Ctnes next opponent for the cham
pionship, but my challenge TO meet the
winner is now in, and ] will be prepared
10 play the winner OF that match.
was biz apprehensive before ] he
gan my match with Morningstar as 10
the effect on my play of lack OF worl;
Tor some time past, mt / soon found that
the rest had done me good and that
had really Improved In form The fact
that made grand average of @l3
showed clearly the Improvement in my
work over the last tournament In which
took part. when / made a grand av
erare o. a triac over -.
Mr. MorniEgstar also showed marked
improvement over his form i'm the tour
namen; in which he won The 1872 tltlc.
at which time he made a grand average
of is. In his match with me he aver
aged -.
see that have been accused of loaf
Ing IN the two first blocks OF NY match
with Morningstar the Inference being
that old so with view of helping the
attendance. The fact that ] ran out
the final block of 500 points in ten In
nines FOR an av crage OF 30 was the basis
OF the accusation. | desire TO go on rec
ord with the declaration that | played
every shot in that match Just as well
as ! possibly could. and the thought OF
loating never entered my head.
How foolish would have been to do
man Ike Mornngstar who Is apt TO get
the balls together at any time and make
a nun that would put him far in the
lead Does II seem likely that I would
iss. ola
match Just for the purpose of playing
for the gate? AS q plain matter of
fact, the public has a pretty fair idea OF
the capabilities OF the players and would
part Of any of them.
But how can any one possibly hang a
charge OF loaiinS on a player who aver
ages over 81 in 1900 po!nts2 How can
any one take II for granted that because
! averaged 81 In one block OF 500 points
that ] must necessarily 90 approximate
ly good work in the other two blocks?
| played good billiards in the two first
nights OF the match, but really did not
feel at my hest Till the third night. This
is added PROOF OF the correctness OF my
claim that three nights play Is the only
true test as between contestants. for
there are but few players but will have
at least one good night In three Sup
pose | had made my big average the first
night and Then fallen Oft in the remain
ing TWO nights? That would have given
Mornnestar chance TO draw up on
me fail 10 SEQ where 2 charge OF
tockeyine lays against me in that match
from any point OF view.
Players Not Outclassed.
Naturally, billiard enthusiasts Will
make comparison OF the records OF the
w" matcbGs-Ciine-D Demarest and Morn
jnSStar and myself From the fact that
my grand average was thirty and one
half. and Morningstar's twenty-five. that
of Cline $ was twelve and fraction, and
ll.Yaa.
impression might be gained that the two
latter PLAYERS are outclassed. That does
not follow, 4 great deal depends on the
conditions under which a match is
played and also on the form OF the
PLAYERS, II a contestant does not feel
exactly right it may affect his average
by many points l think that in bill
liards, more than in any other branch of
sport, the work OF an expert is apt to
be influenced for good or bad by his en-
vironments and his form. To bring out
tons must be favorable TO him, and a
player is seldom fortunate enough to
have everything in his favor.
In any event, l do not desire TO hold
mp my superior grand average as evil
denco that ! Will defeat Cline or any
other player in the future. OF course.
| am confident OF my ability to win the
championship back but that confidence
is not based on averages.
While ! am convinced That three
nights play in a match for a title is
the only iair method OF deciding IL. and
while ] am desirous OF playing only
three nights in al championship con-
tests. stil. owing to the peculiar atti-
tudc Of Mr.. Sutton, present holder by
default. Of the Is ! title. ] feel con-
strained TO meet him in d one night
match OF 500 points. 1t was practically
agreed by Mr Sutton when / challenged
tiIat the match would be Of three nights
duration. and | posted my forfeit on Iha t
understanding. But Mr.. Sutton shifted
his attitude and declared that his health
would not permit of him playing more
than one night This was distasteful TO
me, but as the rules give the holder OF
titlc the right 10 name the place of
play and number of points. providing
they be not less than 500. ] was com
pelled to either accept his dictation in
the matter or forego a chance 10 play
for the title. Being very anxious to re-
gain a championship that I originally
won from NiNnauX. the Partisan expert.
decided to waive the point. and will
play Mr.. Sutton 800 points. one night.
in Chicago. on March is. The financial
conditions. provide that the winner take
. u. and this was suggested by me and
finally accepted by Sutton
Schaefer Great Player
The adjustment OF the differences be.
tween the chief promoters Of billiards
and Morningstar and myself has been an
excellent thing for this great game as