New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-28
CHALLENGE FOR HOPPE
FROM ENGLISH PLAYER
Inman, Champion, Wants CON-
promise Between the Vary
ing Styles of Play.
HE WILL BE HERE SOON
Frank Ives Once Challenged and
Easily Defeated Holder OF
British Title - Rules
Have Been Changed.

Melbourne Inman, champion OF English
billiards, who is now in Northwest can
ada, is coming to the East, and wishes
to arrange a series Of matches with Will
lam y. Hoppe. the worlds champion OF
balkline billiards. Inman proposes three
games. on an English table. on terms
similar to those which governed the ia
nous international match between Frank
/ c. Ives and John Roberts, played in Lon
don twenty years ago. Modified condi-
tions governed that contest. and II was
not strictly in accordance with English
championship rules.
The present English champion wishes
10 play Hoppe at what he terms com
promise billiards. which means on an
English table with smaller pockets than
the regulation size, and balls larger than
the standard for English championship.
Otherwise the rules of the Billiards Con-
troll Club Of London 10 govern.
On such conditions Inman is ready 10
make three matches each for $1,000 or
upward. to be played in New York. Lon
don and Paris. Inman will arrive in New
York on October 30 prepared 10 support
his offer.
The match between Ives and Roberts
was played in Humphreys Hail. knights
bridge. London. from May % to June 2.
1893. II was a contest of 5000 points,
played in five days. COO points each after
noon and evening. The result was a VIC
tory for the American player by a score
OF $500 10 1921.
Prior to that match Roberts. the then
British champion. was believed TO be in
vincible. In England suggestion that
any American player would have any
chance of defeating him was considered
the height of absurdity. Even In Chicago.
where Ives resided at the time, a similar
view prevailed.
Ives was about the only person In the
world who thought differently. During a
visit to London he studied the English
game. Then he did some experimental
practice work. Finally he startled the
realm of billiards by offering to match
himself against Roberts II the latter
would consent to slight notifications with
respect to the width OF pockets and the
size of balls.
The regulation English table was 6 by
| ~ feet inside the rails, and had six pock-
cts. measuring tour inches at the fall of
the slate. Regulation championship balls
were not less than 2 lie nor over 3-32
in diameter. Ives proposed to have the
pockets cut square and measure 3iz inches
at the fall Of the slate. and the balls OF
| 2 IA size. Roberts promptly accepted.
After arranging TO have a table to prac-
tise on shipped to Chicago, Ives returned
| to the United States.
When he reached New York he was ad-
vised that he had made losing contract.
In Chicago hs was told he had given him
self an absolutely impossible task. With
| that self-reliance which was his CHIEF
characteristic TO all pessimistic express
sions he replied. "Tll win. sure" In
practice he applied himself assiduously
to rail and anchor nursing, neither or
which was a resource OF English experts.
This work he reinforced by pocket play,
at which he excelled. When he started
back to England TO meet Roberts his ad-
vice to all acquaintances was, Back mef'
During the first two days of the match
Roberts led and there were large at
tendances and great enthusiasm. On the
afternoon OF the third d"y Ives got the
anchor position inside the lower left
pocket The balls were not "jawed," as
has been enormously asserted. The white
object ball rested against the inside OF
the pocket The red ball WAS In contact
with the white ball, but was otherwise
free. 1t was also close to the edge OF the
drop.
In that position Ives scored 1855. He
played through three sessions without
disturbing the balls. Saying. I'm tired
Of playing It. and, besides, want TO
show that can get them back again.
he deliberately broke up the position
A run OF S53 on the fifth day COM
pIeted the overthrow of the foremost rep
resentative Of English billiards. Aftei