New-York tribune., 1916-02-19
French Master of Billiards
Had Long Career
as Expert.
GAINED HIS FAME
IN THIS COUNTRY
Once Ran ,5Sl in Match Against
George Slosson at Old Style
Straight Rail Game.

Maurice NiCnaux the French billiard
ist. whose fame was international. died
Thursday at Monte Carlo. Cable ad-
vice 20 that effect was received yester-
day from Taris by the Brunswick
Balke-C Collender Company. In has
younger days he was symmetrical Of
figure and handsome Of feature. High
living affected his stomach. and for ten
years he had been practically an in
valid. Although he played billiards
daily. either professionally or for
healthful exercise. during the last five
years he aged rapidly.
Maurice Vignaux, one Of the fore
most billiard experts the world has
produced. was born in Fregouville. IN
the south Of France. in 1876. He was
reared in Toulouse, where as youth
he became a clerk in a business house
Occasionally playing billiards, he dis
played talent for the game and attract
ed the attention of FRANCOIS Ubassy,
.hen a professor in cafe. who induced
him to accept a position as marker and
become a pupi. With Ubassy as men
tor, NignauX made rapid progress ana
soon became the better player OF tne
two. II was not. however. until 1914
that he acquired more than a local
reputation. And il was in New ! ork
that he achieved distinction and fame.
In his Introductory tournament he
became a champion. The first three
ball tournament for the championship
Of America was held at Tammany nan
from November TO l3, inclusive, 1914
NignauX won first hOnOrs IN that event
while GARNER. DAILY, J. Dion, kudolphe'
Ubassy, SlOsson, {. DION and DahleiS
finished as named. Then he defeated
(. Dion in a non championship match
for $500 a side at Tammany hall De-
cember :. 1874. In a championship
match at the same hall December 30 OF
the same year he defeated j. Dion.
The following year, February p, he
won the II. ". Collender challenge cup,
emblematic of the championship OF the
world. from Rudolphe, and on the fol-
lowing night defeated Rudolphe for the
American title. March % he success
fully defended the American champion
chip in a match against {. DION.
Slosson madr three trips TO Pans TO
play Vignaux. At the Sale Cremorne,
April 10 TO Il. 1880, they contested IN
the final straight rail match between
first class professionals. II was a game
of 1000 points. Vignaux won by
score Of 1000 TO BIS, and made rec
ord run Of 1881. Slosson ran l,lO3.
At the Grand Hotel, Decembe- ~ TO
"a. the same year, Slosson was again
unsuccessful in match with NlgnauN,
who defeated him at the champions
pane. 5000 to 2.961. In 1882, January
B0 10 February 3. at the Grand Hotel,
the Americans perseverance was re-
warded. PLAYING 5000 points at the
champions game, Slosson defeated
Vignaux by Az points. The winner ran
39s and the loser 1894.
Vignaux came TO the United States
in 1888 to play IN the first tournament
az the balkhne game. II was held un-
der the management of the j. NJ.
Brunswick & Bake Company, at Cen
trial Music Hall, Chicago, March 26 to
April 6. II was at the eight-inch line,
two shots in. and the participants were
Schaefer, Nignaux. DAILY, Sexton. Nor
ris. ]. Dion and Wallace. Schaefer won
and was not challenged.
At the Grand Hotel. Paris, Febru-
ary 10 10 90, 1903, Vignaux figured
in the first 1872 championship tourna-
ment ever held. II was promoted by
the Brunswick Balke-Collende- Com
pany. His opponents were Cure, Sut.
ton and Slosson. Cure, Sutton and
he tied on games won, and he
claimed first prize and the champion
shin for having made the highest grand
averaee-2220 Sutton's grand average
was 2O.S1. Ours 1876. A controversy
over the claim resulted in litigation in
the French courts, which decided in
Nignaux's favor Challenged by Sutton,
he defeated that expert. 800 TO 496, at
the Grand Hotel, January %, 1904.
A little more than a month later
March AIT the Grand Hotel, he took