New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
HARD TEST FOR De ORC
Must Defend Pocket Billiards
Title Against Mature.
DENVER GUEST DANGEROUS
Has Twice Taken Measure of
Champion in Matches
Played Last Year.

James Mature. of Denver. will meet
Alfredo de Gro in a match for the worlds
pocket billiard championship at Days
Academy this week. The first block OF
| 200 points will be played tomorrow night.
Nature is thirty-four years old. He was
born in Italy, came to the United States
when twelve years OF age and was resi-
dent Of Jersey City until 1896 Since then
he has made his home in Denver. He
learned to play pocket billiards In Jersey
City. but first attracted attention as "A
contestant in tournament at sam Cru
ems After locating in Denver he applied
capable of acquitting himself creditably in
any company.
TONY" Sarconi. OF Denver, is here with
Mature. lie will be remembered as one
of Fred Eamess hackers when that ers,-
while Boston player won the three-cushion
championship from DE ORC at McGraws
Academy lie and Eames are partners In
tile largest billiard hall in Denver.
There have been two matches between
Mature and De Orc the Denver man win
ming both Two years ago they met In
handicap match, De Orc giving the
younger man 80 balls in 900. Mature did
not need this handicap, as he won by
more than 80 points on even terms. No
championship was involved. but big
purse was at stake and Denver sporting
men CLEANED up by backing their man.
Mature again defeated the Cuban last
spring in the worlds championship tour
nauent i'm Philadelphia He finished sec
ond TO Edward Ralph, who was the only
PLAYER TO defeat him. De Orc wound up
in third place.
There is no question Of Natures nerve
and steadiness IN the pinch In his
tournament game with De orc the Cuban
needed only fourteen balls when Mature
completed his string with an unfinished
run Of twenty. He lost 10 Ralph. the
champion, by only few points. Ralph
retained possession OF the new title only
q short time, as De ORC regained the
championship in a challenge match. and
subsequently defended the emblem against
Frank Sherman, Of Washington
Those who watched Nature at practice
last week were impressed with the Den
yer mans cleverness at long table shots.
His stroke is bold. and he sizes up the
situation quickly. From difficult lays.
close to the cushion he can pick on the
long shots. and his position work Is neat,
although apparently unstudied. In 'he
briskness of his execution, his willingness
! TO take chances and his lusty drives lot
spreads he reminds one of Hueston when
that player was in his prime. lie also
has a good eye for combinations and can
calculate kiss" shots to a nicely. In
short. he is in the championship class.
New Workers will pin their faith to De
ORC because they have seen MIN come
| from behind time and again and win
| by wonderful finishes when he appeared
| hopelessly beaten. Experts agree that
The Cuban IL one Of the greatest money
players in the profession. NO mat'er
how poorly he starts, he nearly always
makes splendid recovery. In MS re-
cent match with Sherman he was OUT
played almost to the first night out
was nearly q hundred balls In the ieau
ar tho end OF the second nights play.
The marvellous Cuban, now past MS
aftleth year and holding his fourteen'ii
championship, shows no signs OK iet''ns
I'D. He plays the new open oreaA
20 me well and as a safety manipulator
he has no equal. In the long matches OF
eoo noints he is tireless and generals
wears out his opponents
n Is his ambition to recapture tho
,hree-cushion billiard title before inc
winter ia over. However, IL he defeats
Mature he will be obliged to meet Thorn
as Hueston, q former champion mex,
month. No player has yet peen iouna
who is versatile enough to DEFEND oo'h
the rocket and three-cushion tues sue
ce,efully FOR any great length OF TIME
pues,on and De Orc are the only msh
ubo have held both championships u
ru,ta neously. Hueston has a challenge
In for the winner OF this match.
In the match this week the new open
break" will be employed. the last Dali or
a frame remaining on the table while the
other fourteen are racked. The player
then continues his run. and always has tne
chance to spread tho balls by getting
break after holing the isolated ball. II all
depends on his maneuvring for the maj
shot OF frame.
Special bleachers have been constructed
n accommodate the spectators. Al the
ne Oro- Sherman match many were turned
away, and the as. R-O." sign was huns out
every night. Several clubs have aiready
reserved blocks Of seats.
De Orc never lacks for hackers. so con-
siderable money will be wagered on the
match. De ORC is a to s favorite. The
new title emblem. stake OF $500 and the
gate receipts will go to the winner