Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-16
SUTTON COMES BACK
Captures 1871 Billiard Title
From Willie Hoppe.
PLAYS IN BRILLIANT FORM
Makes High Run of 104 and Shows
Some Dazzling Shots Be-
fore Big Crowd.

NEW YORK. March 1G.-George SUIT
ton defeated Willie Hoppe by score OF
800 to :;1i and won the 1871 balklne bill
lard championship. at the Hotel Astor
last night. Hoppe was net at his best
and by losing his title missed the rare
chance of retaining the trophy for all
time as his personal property
The crowd that greeted the PLAYERS was
not quite SO large 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 Che
bank shot for lead, bu; his beginning
was not suspicious. The cue ball was
inches wide of the mark Hoppe did
better. He worked out twenty-eight
caroms in his first chance at the table
But even SO early in the match those ac-
customed 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 hesi-
fancy that BODIED i'll.
Champion and challenger accomplished
little in the first eight innings. Sutton.
by a broadly played series of fourteen
caroms for his eighth turn, managed to
take the lead by a score of 10 to ~. SUIT
ton was maneuvering for position on
the line in this run when the globes
baked land rolled into the center. He
was compelled to attempt a masse. but
the long reach was too much for him 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 coilec-
ton of ia caroms that was within six
of Hopes record run of 10. made
against George Slosson in December
1910 1t was bold and impressive
piece of work. At the thirteenth count
he had the globes under control at the
head of the table and i'm the corner. In
striving for the nursing position Sutton
made several bad lands on thew rong
side of the second object ball and his
position was spoiled, but he managed
to rise superior to a number of mean
leaves
At thrty-seven an untimely kiss threat
ened disaster. but the challenger over
came a puzZin1, spread by "a long draw
shot. He was playing his draw and fol-
low shots with rare precision. At the
fiftietl count the spheres were prettily
punched in one of the corners at the
head of the table. 1t appeared impossi-
BILE for Sutton to hold the position. and
he rolled the balls all over the table.
This necessitated splendid three-cush
ion shot for the fifty-ninth count. Then
Sutton reeicd off number of dazzling
oaroms. each seemingly better than the
one before it. until there was a constant
ripple of applause from the crowd.
The Seventy-Sccond count was twice
across the table drive, while seven car
omS later he ovcrcame "a lineup by driv-
ing the red up and down thu table. mean
while drawing the cue ball back for a
swing across the corner He
executed "A 2rcat spread draw shot half
the length of the table for the eighty
sixth count. As fhe crowd howlcd with
delight. Sutton gave Hoppe SLY glance
that denoted the confidence he felt.
a double drive of the white for nearly
thirty feet of action produced the 1O0th
count. Then Sutton went on to 1O4. hav-
ing the balls grouped the upper end
so that a hand might span them. In that
close proximity he slipped on draw shot
of few inches.
Hoppe made brave effort to retaliatc.
He managed to get ia by the hardest sort
of maneuverng and playing. 1t was not
the resourceful, phenomenal Hoppe of old.
however, who struggled through this pref
ty collection of carOms. The crowd
seemed to realize that and tried to cheer
him on by overgenerous applause.
His control at close range was better
than his challenger's. but the shots lacked
brilliancy. Hoppe fused with his shots.
changed his mind two or three times
about each difficult problem. until the
kindly disposed spectators had TO laugh.
Occa sionally when he cued. his hands
shook AS if the young player had been
with the palsy. After run OF
caroms Hoppe tried a
round the table shot i'm which the red
kissed off the cue bali and lie retired.