New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-09
GERMAN CHAMPION WINS
Plays Brilliant Billiards IN an
Uphill Struggle.
GARDNER PROVES HIS SKILL
Beats Poggenpurg in Second
Game of the International
Tournament.

Treating the lovers Of amateur BILLIARDS
to a sensational Bit Of nervy play, by winch
he overcame what appeared to be an over
whelming lead. Albert Poenssen, the Ger
man champion. last night won his match III
the international amateur 1S2 balk INV
billiard tournament AT the LiederkTdhH
Club 10y defeating Joseph Mayer. OF PIMA
delphia, 400 points to 3S5.
At one stage Poensgen was more than
ono hundred points behind his opponent
This seemed TO be due TO nervousness. for
he started his string poorly. Later, how
ever he proved himself an artist with the
cue and ivory globes And this came after
MAYER had displayed marvellous skill that
would have struck terror and discourage
ment 10 any but the seasoned tournament
performer
That it did not Lave the effect of dismay-
ing Poensgen may he taken from the tact
that when he settled down he put together
runs of q. - and o. in sequence that sent
him into the lead. His average was
If 15-25. As for Mayer. he gave the best
exhibition he has ever shown in competi-
ton His average was Q 27-3i. and his best
runs 10. g. and 81.
The afternoon game was long drawn
out affair between the two rivals. with
Edward w. Gardner. the national cham
rion, of Upper Moutclair. y. j.. defeating
j. Ferdinand Poggenburg. eX-champion. 400
points 10 292. Gardeners average was
II 4-36. and his best runs 81. 50 and 2S-
Poggenburg made an average Of 1882
while his highest runs were a.. 42 and p.
Throughout the fore part of the after
noon contest both men played cushion car
roms rather than bslk line. During the
second half Of the game Gardner began
TO draw ahead by his excellent hall to ball
billiards His position playing was also
superior to Poggenburg's This was the
case as he came TO the end Of his string,
as he put together brilliant run of 81
carro,ns marked by delicate close nursing,
eepeciallv in the centre panel on the
whole the champion throughout the match
disnlaved his skill and class under stress OF
hard PLAYING.
The German champion chose the tavoflte
spot ball upon winning the bank for lesd
in the evening game He missed the regu-
lstion opening shot. Then Mayer began
hut so delicately that he failed to roll the
globes out Of balk on the second count. On
his next session, after Poensgen had tai
lied. MAYER put together a beautiful clus-
fer of thirty-seven, all at the head Of the
table. 1t was masterful exhibition OF
balk line. Throughout a pocket handker-
chief might have covered the three
spheres.
Mayer's touch was deft, at times dainty,
and he controlled position perfectly. With
the balls continuously in close proximity
-. 81, .I-o4 he itnviag froz
on the thirty-seventh carrom. In an at
tempt 10 masse the Philadelphia player
missed.
Poensgen began indifferently. He seemed
trife nervous. so that his attempts at
position missed BY a shade. Meanwhile
Mayer electrified the crowd. among whom
were many women, by his performance. His
handling Of cue and ivory was at once free.
graceful and wonderfully rapid. The car
roms fairly rippled from his cue, and
when he missed he had 127 buttons, Poems
gen trailing with only %.
II looked bad for the German visitor but
before long he began 70 creep M, and final
~ gathered a cluster Of 80. The best was
70 come. however on his next turn
Poeuseen treated the crowd TO bit of
play that has rarely If ever been equalled
by an amateur in this country.
Delcacv Of stroke and skilful manpuvrins
along the line often in close nurse, resulted
in his pls cling 10 his credit q run Of IS. The
last count was a difficult masse The balls
sea TERED. and in attempting a spread draw
shot Of few inches the cue bah rolled
wide Of the mark.
The big run placed Poensgen in the lead
Mayer made a plucky effort 10 overhaul
him. Once he threatened 10 do His
opportunity came in the twentyninth in
ming, upon his counting ~. He was only
seven behind the German, but. as had been
the case with his opponent, a draw shot
led TO Mayors undoing. From that TO tho
end Poensgen played prettily, if not in large
figures. and won by safe margin.
| The two games scheduled for to-day viii
/ bring Or. l.. l.. Mial and j. Ferdinand
! Poggenburg together in the afternoon
Charles T. Conklin and Joseph Mayer viii
meet in the nights contest.
| The summary follows:
EVENING GAME.
| Albert Poensgen spot balD-0. O. q. I, !, II
Is. 3, o. l. o. lS 2 $S ~ o. 3 e. % 70, ~
l. 2 B. i@ ~ 10 "a o b -; runs o. 80 ao? X
and So - -
| a. 2 a. q. 9. -. O. ], . 4. 40, IL. !, S. II, 5
/ o. o, o. IS. /. 2. AZ, /, !. 4 o. 4 Total 90
points; average, 27-34. high runs, 40. a and 81
! Referee-Albert G. Cutler.
AFTERNOON GAME.
Edward W. Gardner spot halD-o. 0, 3, 3. !
1s H. - "a 90 4. f e. :? 8. g. j.! + 3. D.
g. IS. 0. 10. 81, s. Total 400 points; average
| II 43s: high runs, 81, 90 and 26.
j. Ferdinand Poggenburg white ball-O. J. I
! q. l. IL. AZ. 2 /, g. I, J. 81 ~. 70. !, 3. o.
! q q IL g. 70. o. 7. o, ~. 80 3, 10, 10, o
! :. 3 Total, 2a2 points; average. s12-35' hisi