The New York herald., 1922-05-28
.CUEMEN PLANNING
FOR ACTIVE SEASON
Two Balkline Tournaments
Assured-18:2 Title May
Be Cancelled.

Tentative plans present prospect
for comprehensive activity In profess
sional billiards next winter. In addi-
tion to the annual three cushion carom
and pocket tournaments, two balkline
events. one at 1872 and another at
1871, are probable. Albert G. Cutler
who officiated as referee of the cham
pionship match between Jacob Schaefer
and Welker Cochran, at Chicago, May
16. II and 1S says he was informed that
the parent Brunswick Bake -Collender
Company considered two balkline tour
naments assured and was arranging for
them; If contemplated plans carry the
1872 tournament will be held in Oc-
tober, the Is Il series in February of
next year. Explaining the situation
Charles p. Miller says:
"As l understand it the idea is to can
eel the p championship now held by
Schaefer and award him the trophy as
personal property. Similar action was
taken in 1914, when the 1S 4 champion
ship was Cancelled and the emblem given
to Hoppe. But this cannot be done
without the consent of all the players
who participated in the tournament at
Chicago last October. Schaefer, who
has more interest than anybody else
in the present championship, not only
consents to the cancellation of his title,
but wishes to have 1t succeeded by an
nual tournaments.
Conti's Consent Necessary.
THE next player 10 be considered, and
whose consent to the new scheme is
vital, is Cont. He has challenges for the
championship. his challenge having been
directed to the winner of the S .haefer
Cochran match When he left here to
return to France he announced that he
expected to return next fall anj play
the title holder in November. Our presi-
dent, b. E. Bensinger, who goes abroad
early next month, will endeavor 10 pre-
vail upon Cont to waive his rights IN
the matter. If Cont consents 1t is quite
certain that Morningstar. HoremaIs and
Sutton, who are next in order as chal-
!engers, will undoubtedly follow. Hore-
mans says he is anxious to challenge
but prefers another tournament.
THE championship situation now is
If Schaefer plays and wins in November
he will not have to play another mattel:
until March 10 next year. If he the.
wins he will have to defend the trophy
only once more. The possible contenders
he may have to meet are Cont, Morning
star and Horemans. If Morningstar will
not challenge Sutton will have enance.
BY reason of their defeats by Schaefer.
Hoppe and Cochran are pra tical,y
eliminated.
my opinion Is that il annual tourna-
ments at fS:2 and 1871 are introduced
each championship will involve three
challenge matches, all to be played in
the winter or billiard season. My view
is that challenges should be met in not
less than thirty nor more than sixty days.
Furthermore the next balkline tourna.
ment should be held In New York. We
have not only the largest city in the
world, in which there are more balk-
line players than elsewhere. but we
are also easily accessible from Boston,
Providence, Hartford, New Haven. New
ark. Trenton, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Washington. In those cities and
New York there are more than four
millions of persons who play billiards.
That this Is not an exageration is shown
by the records of billiard tables in use
in public rooms, clubs and private
houses. Accordingly, / believe that in
billiard affairs New York Is entitled
to paramount consideration
Speaking of his experience in Chi
cago Cutler said: II didn't have the
slightest trouble. Schaefer and Coch-
ran held aloof from each other. could
rot induce them to meet. So I had to
l wished to be strictly observed. During
all three nights of the match when not
at the table each player kept his seat.
When the game ended they shook hands
but didn't look at each over. Schaefer
looked one way, Cochran the other All
the players / met favored revival OF
1871 They admitted that 1872 had be-
come too easy"
The first 1871 championship tourney
was held in New York in 1897. Slosson
won the trophy, which for seventeen
years was a medium Of competition.
Schaefer took it from Slosson and lost
Il to Ives. who refused to- defend 1t.
In another tournament, in 1901, Schae-
fer again became possessor of 1t. In
Paris Sutton got it by forfeiture. Wig
naux took it from Sutton. In 1906
Hoppe went to Paris and won X from
Vignaux.
Returning to New York Hoppe was
challenged by Sosson. They played in
Grand Central Palace March 27, 1906,
before the largest gathering that ever
witnessed a billiard match. Hoppe re-
tained the trophy, 500 to 323. After
having defeated Schaefer. 500 to Az.
Hoppe, on January 2, 1907, forfeited
the emblem to Sutton. Schaefer chal-
lenged Sutton, defeated him twice, CUT
Ter once. and on March II. 1908, de-
feated Hoppe. That was the last match
Schaefer ever played. Once more he
forfeited TO Sutton. Thus for the third
time Sutton obtained the emblem by for
feiture. Then the emblem rotated be-
tween Sutton and Slosson and on March
16, 1910. was regained by Hoppe. March
is, 1912, at the Hotel Astor. Sutton
again acquired the title by defeating
Hoppe The final match for the trophy
was played at Pittsburgh March 1s,