Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-20
BILLIARD SITUATION
IS NOW CLEARING UP
Victories by Hoppe and Cline
BoiIs Championship Down
to This Pair.
(By Willie Hoppe.)

The billiard situation cleared very ap-
probably as a result Of the recent
matches. The victory of Cline over Dem
Arrest and my success in my match with
Morningstar brings me a little closer to a
chance to compete for the 1872 title. 1t
is true that Albert Cutler will be Cline's
next opponent for the championship, but
my challenge to meet the winner Is now
in, and I will be prepared to play the
winner Of the match.
/ was bit apprehensive before began
my match with Morningstar as to the
effects on my play OF lack of match work
for some time past, but ! soon found that
the rest had done me god and that l
had really improved In form. The fact
that I made a grand average OF BIZ
showed clearly the improvement in my
work over the last. tournament in which
had taken part. when made a grand
average Of trife over 81.
Mr.. Morningstar also showed marked
improvement over bis form in the tourna-
ment in which he won the 1872 title. at
which time he made a grand average or
Is. In his match with me he averaged %.
-
/ see that / have been accused of loaf
ing In the two first blocks of my match
with Morningstar, the inference being
that / did 80 with a view Of helping the
attendance. The fact that I ran out the
final block Of 500 points in ten innings
for an average Of so was the basis of the
the declaration that l played every shot
In that match just as well as | possibly
could. and the thought of loafing never
entered my head.
How foolish 1 would have been to do
any dilatory work in a match with man
like Morningstar, who is apt to get the
balls together at any time and make
run that would put him far In the lead.
Does it seem likely that l would 5eop-
ardize my chances of winning match
just for the purpose Of playing for the
gate? AS plain matter of fact. the pub
lie has a pretty fair idea Of the capa bill
ties of the players and would be quick to
detect any loafing on the part of any OF
them.
But how can any one possibly hang
charge Of loafing on a player who aver
ages over 81 in 1,JOO points? How can
any one take for granted that because
averaged 80 in one block Of 500 points
that l must necessarily do approximately
good work in the other two blocks? |
played very good billiards In the two hrst
nights Of the match. but l really did not
feel at my best till the third night. This
is added proof of the correctness of my
claim. that three nights play is the only
true test between contestants, for
there are but few players but Will nave
at least one good night in three. SUPPOSE
| I had made my big average the first
night, and then fallen off In the remain
ing two nights? That would have given
Morningstar a chance to draw up on me.
/ fall to see where a charge of Jockeying
laws against me in that match from any
point of view
Naturally. billiard enthusiasts will make
q comparison of the records OF the two
matches-Cline and Demarest and Morn
inestar and myself. From the fact that
my grand average was 311s. Morning
stars %. that OF Cline's was Il and a
fraction and Demarest's a fraction over
ii the impression might be gained that
the two latter players are outclasseo.
That does not follow.
A great deal depends on the conditions
under which a match is played. and also
on the form OF the players. II a con
affect his average by many points. think
that in billiards more than in any other
branch of sport the work OF an expert
is apt to be influenced for good or pa r
by his environments and his form. TO
bring out the best that is in man all
the conditions must be favorable to him.
and a player is seldom fortunate enough
to have everything in his favor
i
my superior grand average as evidence
that 1 will defeat Cline or any other
player In the future. OF course. | am con-
fident of my ability to win the champion
ship back, but that commence is not
based on averages.
While l am convinced that three nights
play in a match for title is the only
fair method Of deciding it. and while l
am DESTROYS of playing only three nights
In all championship contests, still. owing
TO the peculiar attitude of Mr.. Sutton
present holder. by default. of the ISL
title, I feel constrained to meet him in
one-hight match Of 500 points It was
practically agreed by Mr.. Sutton when l
challenged that the match would be of
three nights duration, and I posted my
forfeit on that 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 a title the right to name
the place Of play and number of points.
providing they be not less than 100, Il
was compelled to either accept his dicta-
ton in the matter or forego chance to
play for the title.
Being very anxious to regain cham
aux. the Partisan expert, I decided to
waive the point. and will play Mr.. Sutton
500 points, one night, in Chicago. March
Is The financial conditions provide that
the winner take ALL and this was sng
gested by me and finally accepted by SUIT
ton.
The adjustment of the differences be-
tween the chief promoters OF billiards and
Morningstar and myself has been an ex-
cellent thing for this great game, as the
number of matches has already increased
three-fold since the amicable arrange
ment Of the dispute.
Billiard enthusiasts throughout the
world will learn with the deepest regret
of the serious illness Of Jake Schaefer,
the wizard. who is reported to be in the
last stages Of consumption In Denver,
where he went with the hope of overcom-
Ing the dreaded complaint. The game of
billiards never had a more dashing, bril-
liant and sensational performer than
Schaefer. He executed the most wonder
full shots without any apparent effort or
study and with the same freedom from
exertion as a man picking cherries from
a dish. When at his best Schaefer was
a dazzling performer. and the spectators
Of a match in which he was a contestant
tional.
An npponent of Schaefer never could