The Washington herald., 1911-01-29
No One 10 Sight Capable of
Taking Away boy Wonders"
Bak Line HOnOrs.
BY TOMMY CLARK.
VOW long will Willie Hoppe re-
tain his billiard honors?

tain his billiard honors? L?
This question is now upper
- - most in the minds Of the cue
enthusiasts. Finding a suitable oppo-
nent for the worlds 1S1 and 1872 baIk
line champion Is just as hard as look
ing around for a man capable Of re-
lieving Jack Johnson Of his pugilistic
honors. Hoppe has defeated every cue
artist Of note during the last year, and
with no one in sight able to make the
holder OF the two titles extend himself
1t looks as if it will be many years be-
fore he is dethroned.
The youthful master of the cue be-
gan the 1910 season with no titles dan
CLING to his belt, but closed it the
champion at both 1871 and 1872 balk line
and In so doing incidentally placed to
his credit the worlds record for 1s.1
| with a high run of 155 and an average
OF 80 5-15 for 500 points. Till last year
the best average was 81. made by
Frank Ives in 1897. while the high run
OF 14o was made by the same player.
| Calv1n-v&emarest was the champion
49, with the opening of the year,
George Sutton holding the title at the
more difficult style Of 1s1. Hoppe was
without a title through differences with
the firm that controls billiards in this
country. which placed him outside of
the professional game. This matter
was adjusted. and experts predicted
that in due time he would gather to
himself the crown at both 49, and 1S.1.
In the meantime Demarest was de-
feated for the 1872 championship by
Harry Cline Of Philadelphia In Chicago
Feb. by 1900 to 1887. Hoppe got his
opportunity at Sutton for the 1s1 title
in Chicago on March is, winning 500 to
22s. He grabbed Cline's laurels from
him at the 49, balk line in New York
on May Is. the score being 500 to 1894
thus making him the champion Of both
styles Of play.
| George Slosson met Hoppe in a
championship match for the 1s1 title
in New York on Dec. and 2. the lat
ter easily taking the veteran into camp
! by 1000 points to Al. 1t was on the
first night of this play that Hoppe
made his record of SO 1-3 average.
| In a match with Ora Morningstar in
|
points Hoppe made a worlds record at
1872 in averaging 31h to an inning. low
ering the previous mark of q average
Some authorities dispute this record.
While Hoppe has won matches all
over the world and played before the
nobility abroad, nothing pleases him
more than the fact that he has beer
entertained by the president Of the
United States and has grasped the
hand of the genial Mr.. Taft. An added
distinction is that Hoppe is the frs,
ly in the White House the mysteries Of
the cue and the worries.
| It was on New Years eve that Pres
ident Taft gathered together his family
| and the cabinet members and theil
wives and invited Willie Hoppe to play
billiards for them.
| Il had played in many championships
where large sums were involved as wei
as the championship" said Hoppe re-
Gently, but I never before experienced
the nervousness which 1 felt when Civ
Ing the exhibition before the presi-
dent"
Mr.. Taft, however. made the "boy
wonder" as Hoppe is known. feel a,
home by saying:
my young man. just consider me an
ordinary citizen tonight, for I want
you to feel at ease and not get nerv-
GUS"
As soon as Hoppe got his favorite
cue in hand and started the ivories
rolling he SaTs the nervousness van
ished, and never did the youth play