New-York tribune., 1912-03-16
q Athletics Other Sports
SUTTON DEFEATS HOPPE
CAPTURES 1871 Billiard Title from
Youthful Holder.
PLAYS IN BRILLIANT FORM
Makes High Run of 104 and
Shows Some Dazzling Shots
Before a Big Crowd.

George Sutton won the Isl balkline bill
lard championship Last night. AS chal-
lenger he defeated the youthful Willie
Hoppe. the defending holder. by a score Of
so points to 37i in the grand ballroom OF
the Hotel Astor. Sutton gained the laurels
he lost two years ago. while Hoppe missed
the chance to capture the trophy for all
time.
1t was not a swiftly played game. as Sut.
ton required an even fifty innings TO COM
plete his string, with q fiat average OF 10
Hopes average was : 3l-49. Interest GEN.
tired upon the performance OF Sutton, who
put together a cluster OF l0i carroms, which
was within six Of the record. That was
the run that broke Hopes spirit He at
tempted to overcome it, but to no avail.
The thing which surprised the followers
of billiards, who had come expecting to
witness a dazzling assortment of carroms
from Hopes cue, was the poor showing
the youthful player made. He was ex-
tremely erratc. He started TO make shots
one way, suddenly changed his mind, veered
around in all directions, and then bungled
completely. often when he tried din.
cult shot his hand shook and trembied until
several Of the onlookers thought that he
must be Ill.
After tho match Hoppe said that he
seemed to have been growing more and
more nervous. He knew that he was fuss
ing with his stroke, but could not seem to
overcome It, and in his own words: TT
worries me to death, and don't know
what to do. I seem to get worse and
worse"
hy tbis me- takea thu fif1a hA 4
secured from the late Jacob schaeter,
Hoppe won it from sutton in DecembeN
1910, and has held It since that time. al-
though only challenged once for It BY
George Slosson. The emblem will therefore
be in circulation for another two years st
least.
The crowd that greeted the players was
not quite so large or so brilliant as the
assemblage which met at the first contest
to be held in the beautiful room. Sutton.
ever sure as to the length Of the table and
speed easily had the best OF the bank shot
for lead. but his beginning was not au-
spicious The cue ball was inches wide Of
the mark. Hoppe did better. He worked
out 2S carroms in his first chance at the
table. But even so early in the match
those accustomed to the spontaneousness
of the youthful champions welding Of the
cue, missed something. Hoppe on nearly
all OF his shots changed position. fiddled his
stroke and exhibited an unusual hestancy
that BODIED III.
Champion and challenger accomplished
little In the first eight innings. Sutton, by
a broadly played series of IA carroms for
his eighth turn, managed to take the lead
by a score Of 80 to 46. Sutton was maneu-
wiring for position on the line in this run
when the globes baked and rolled into the
centre. He was compelled TO attempt
masse but the long reach was too much
for MIN and he rolled the cue ball askew.
1t was evident that Sutton had been
tuning up his stroke in harmony with the
/ worries. He proved It in the next inning,
! when he put together a massive collection
| OF lO4 carroms that was within six of
Hopes record run OF no. made against
George SlossOn in December, 1910. IL was
bold and impressive piece OF work. AT the
thirteenth count he had the globes under
control at the head of the table and in
the corner. In striving for the nursing
position sutton made several bad lands on
the wrong side of the second object ball
and his position was spoiled, but he man.
aged to rise superior TO a number OF mean
leaves.
At thirty-seven, an untimely kiss threat.
ened disaster, but the challenger oveCame
puzzling spread by long draw shot.
He was playing his draw and follow shots
with rare precision AT the fiftieth count
the spheres were prettily punched in one
of the corners at the head OF the table.
Ii appeared impossible for Sutton TO hold
the position, and he rolled the balls all
over the table. This necessitated a splendid
three cushion shot for the tfty-ninth
count Then Sutton reeled off a number
of dazzling carroms, each seemingly better
l. than the one before il, until there was
constant ripple of applause from the crowd
The seventy-second count was twice
across the table drive, while seven car
roms later he overcame lineup by drtv.
ing the red up and down the table. mean.
while drawing the cue ball back for won.
derful swing across the corner He exc
cuted a great spread draw shot half the
length of the table for the eighty-sixth
count. As the crowd howled with delight
Sutton gave Hoppe SLY glance that de-
noted the confidence he felt
A double drive of the white for nearly
thirty feet Of action produced the one-hun-
dredtn count. IUeH OutAoi "SA's va W
lO4. having the balls grouped on the upper
end so that a hand might span them. In
that close proximity he slipped on a draw
shot of a few inches.
Home made a brave effort to retaliate.
He managed to get 81 by the hardest sort
of maneuvring and playing 1t was not
the resourceful, phenomenal Hoppe or old,
however, who struggled through this pref
ty collection of carroms. The crowd
seemed TO realize that and tried TO cheer
him on by overgenerous applause.
His control at close range was better
than his challengers, but the shots lacked
brilliancy. Hoppe fused with his shots,
changed his mind two or three times about
each difficult problem. until the kindly dis
uosed spectators had to laugh. OCCASIONAL
Iy. when he cued his hands shook as II the
Young player had been stricken with the
palsy. After a run of miscellaneous car
roms Hoppe tried a round the-table shot In
which the red kissed off the cue ball snd
he retired
George Sutton White balD-0. lS, "a 0. 2:6
"a IO4 O. I, o. 3, o, o, o. II, 5, o. o. 1I, ~
90 TO- 12 o. l3, o. o. o. II, TO- o. = ~
o. 30 . o, 30 /. %, 90. !. 3 2, 10. 8. .Iote1
SEQ points; average 10; high runs "'' "
and 80 n
a. 3 o. %. o. % /. 0. s. 0. 0, 8. 8. 2. T.
O. A. B. l. 3. o. :, l. ], l3. ., = i "a,
5 .! ., 81, l$, l. TSia 81 2, S,a ana pS,n" Si