The Washington times., 1912-02-07
Compete for World Cham
pionship of 1872
Balk Line.
MATCH SCHEDULED
FOR HOTEL ASTOR
Arrangements Have Been Made
to Seat l,l0o Spectators at
Big Event.

NEW YORK, Feb. This evening an
innovation with respect to billiard
contests in this country will be wit
messed. For the first time in the history
or the game in the United States a
match will be played In a leading hotel
Willie Hoppe and George Sutton will,
on that occasion, be opponents. and
they Will compete for the championship
OF the world at 1872 baIk line. in the
grand ballroom Of the Hotel Astor.
The players and the place have inter-
national regulations.
hoppe Is the present champion, SUIT
- ton a former champion, and the hall In
which they will perform is said to be
the finest of its kind In the world.
heretofore, important billiard events on
this continent have been conducted in
puolic halls. In France, however, II has
oeen customary to hold matches and
tournaments In hotels, notably the
Grand, Paris, in the dining hall of
which games have frequently been
played without interference with resu-
lar business Of the place.
The dining hall OF the Grand couId
accommodate about 900 persons Tbe
taole was located about the middle of
Ihe moor. On the evenings when II iva q
useo 1t was kept covered until dinner
M was over i've Then the tables and chairs
seats were arranged around BILLIARD
equipment, A gallery provided other
seats When games between noted ex-
Perts, particularly international repre-
sentatlVes took place, the limited ca
pacity of the hall commanded hiSh
prices Hish
Many to See Match.
Arrangements for the game to be held
at the Hotel Aston present accommodate
uons Tor LOO spectators. Raised seats
wall surround the table, q perfect view
or which can also be obtained from
boxes In the first balcony. The loca-
tCn and setting should tend to ele-
Vate and increase the popularity Of
the gentlemen's game; ana be the con-
test close or one-sided, 1t is sure to be
ttre,.aiiilhs, Tor each OF the competing
plays of skill. "''
The champion has no speciality at the
lS2 balkline game. He executes ali
and art. Sutton is a strong performer
at all styles of billiards. At 1872 how
ever he applies himself to two Special
ties He deyotes his efforts to at
the minimum, that is, to either the head
or foot section of the table. and line
nursing. His work is systematic and
oeHcate, and when well done produces
Hoppe and Sutton have on five diff
Lerent OCCASIONS been opponents at IS.2
The first time they met was in the
tournament held at Madison Square
tween them Sutton overwhelmed Hoppe
by making his famous and uneoualed
ayerage Of 100 in 500; slosson won the
nsrn sHhn.:,oL with Sutton in second
Sutton scored a high run of 234, and a
grand average OF A.l4. Hopes best
run was III; his best single average
@'2S' and his grand average 2O.4
Won Every Game.
The following May, at Chicago, ir
what was called tournament of cham.
pions. with Slosson, Schaefer, Sutton
Hoppe, and Cure, Of Paris, as com.
petitors, Hoppe won all his games
made a run of 3N, a single average OF
62.60, and grand average of PTS SUIT.
TONS averages were better thar
Hopes. They were 1898 and 1925. His
high run was 236. October IS, the same
year. Sutton won the championship
from Slosson by score of 800 to 375
and was challenged by Hoppe The
game between them took place Decem.
Der 10, at Grand Central Palace, and
Sutton won, the totals being 500 and 27S
Sutton's average was 26.32.
March 2. 1905, Hoppe obtained the
coveted title and trophy at Madison
q square GaTQen1 Wnen he beat Sutton
500 to 272, with an average of 90 SO
Shortly afterward he returned the EN-.
hlem to the donors, the Brunswick,
Balke-Collender Company, contendinl
that 500-point games were too short tc
determine the relative skill of first
class experts. Induced to try again foI
the championship, he won 1t March l6
1910, from Harry P. Cline. Since ther
he has twice defended It. December
and 2. 1910. he defeated Slosson in twC
nights play, 1000 to 400 November 28
1911, he beat Sutton, 800 to 266.
Playing at Days the past week, SUIT
ton has not performed we'll In hi!
practice at Chicago before coming herr
he played the best billiards of his ca
reer. He is unable to understand WHY
he has not played correspondingly vel
here, but predicts he will do better II
the match. Before winning from Slos
son in 1903 his practice was discourag
ing, but OH the match table he raj
202 and averaged 1925, Being capab BIZ
of big runs and averages he Is Away
dangerous. Hopes practice at Nc
Graw's has been enlinently satisfactory
He will go to the table in almost per
feet condition.
III Hoppe retains the emblem until
March l6, 1t will become his persona
property. In the event of his defeat
ing sutton, 1t is very likely he will b.
challenged by either Calvin DemarCs
or Harry p. Cline.