The New York herald., 1922-04-02
CUE MEN ENTHUSE
OYER TITLE MATCH
schaefer-Hoppe Contest Clos
est on Record-Won by
Two Per Cent.
ny THOMAS J. GALLAGHER.

billiard champion OF France. who had
been tho playing partner OF Jacob
Schaefer from the time the latter won
the championship OF the world. Nov. 20.
TO March /, said TO the writer:
"When left Schaefer in Chicago /
say I wish you will win the match with
Hoppe He laugh and say Easy,
easy"
Schaefer may have made that answer
seriously. He may have made II jocu-
larly and hopefully. II may have been
inspired by supreme confidence. II II
was the champion experienced a tense.
narrowing surprise. In a contest OF 1900
points he won by 80 points. the percent
age by which he retained his title belnf
.0213. just shade more than per cent
Instead of enjoying an easy. easy"
conquest he suffered considerable mental
anxiety. perhaps torture.
What his hackers among the specta-
tors underwent during the three sessions
OF the match can be surmsed. The first
night he finished with a lead of 34. The
second night he extended his advantage
TO 49, Finally he won by 80. Locally
his admirers and supporters had dubious
periods. Belated returns and close scores
were mediums OF distressful emotions
The flash that no had won was great
relief. IT enabled them 10 initiate their
lungs and breathe freely. When they
became normal they unanimously conf
mented, 1T was a great game"
Hoppe I'm Good Form.
Schaefer did not play so well as was
expected. Hoppe surpassed expecta-
tions. Private information from Chica-
go was TO the effect that the champion
was in good physical condition and play
ing better than ever before. Bud Hau-
ser wrote Haurice DAILY tina. in practice
ISchaefer had made a run OF 2l5, the
largest he had ever made. A request
that this information be not published
was respected. reports from st. Louis.
where Hoppe prepared for the match.
said the erstwhile champion was In fine
form. There was nothing, however, TO
i-dicate that he would perform, as he
did, better than in any previous cham
pionship event He made the high run
of the game, ESQ. and grand average
of 45.933. Schaefer's high run was 252
and his grand average 45.SS7. Schaescr
had 81 innings, Hoppe so.
Many persons could not comprehend
how 1t was that the loser could have
he'd better average than the winner.
They persisted In asking why there was
such q happening. The answer is very
simple. Banking for the lead was a
part Of the game II opened II. Schaefer
won and accordingly had the first shot.
which resulted In miss. Nevertheless.
no was charged with an inning. Hat
his opening stroke counted he might
have been materially benefited and thus
realized on his successful bank. AS IT
was, Hoppe was the first TO score. AL
though he made only he had an OF
porturity to compile valuable run
before Schaefer would have another in
ming. Schaefer opened and closed tha
game. That was the reason he had ono
more inning than Hoppe. Had Hoppe
won, the innings would have been equal.
Hoppe Takes His Time.
There has been much speculation
about what Hoppe might have done
had not a spectator shouted "Hit 1t r.
That happsned In the thirtieth inning,
when Hoppe, who needed 32 was fid-
ding and unable to deliver solid
stroke. Eventually he mlscued. prac-
tically presenting the match to Schaefer.
who needed 10. which he collected After
the game was over Hoppe said ne was
not disturbed by the remark that was
made. Inability TO deliver n stroke has
heretofore characterized Hopes cue
work in match play. II was particu-
larry evident in his matches in the
Hotel Astor in-l9ie. lie then could not
make mind and muscls coordinate. Ey
actual count, in one instance, when
poised for a maSse, he fiddled thirty
one times. stopped and played q bank
shot.
After he had been beaten. March l6.
1912. for tho Il championship. his
father-in-law, Thomas w. Walsh, took
action that probably saved Hoppe to the
billiard profession and restored him to
head OF It. Hopes cues were placed
where he could not get them and he
was not permitted to play billiards un-
I'll tho next autumn. That rest put him
In good condition for the next seasons
competition. Although he was boatcn
three points by Yamada IN a game In
a championship 1872 tournament, ho
won the tournament.
That was his last defeat until no was
beaten by Schaefer In November. On
March 10. 1913, at Pittsburgh. he re-
covered the 1871 title by beating Morn
ingstar. who had taken the champion
ship from Sutton. During the tcurna-
nent at Chicago last November
"hitch" In his stroke was again OBJ
served. Under tho ordeal OF the recent
match It's manifestation was more pro-
nounccd. Whether II 10 again serious
remains 70 be seen.
Cochran Next Challenger.
In tiie order Of precedence, prescribed
by the 49, championship conditions,
and established by standing OF the par
ticinants In the November tournament.
Hoppe may not have another chance to
challenge for a year. The next eligible
is Cochran. Two weeks ago. as he was
about 90 60 West. he told Charles p.
Miller, vice-president of the Brunswick
Balko-C-oliender Company. that he
would be IN Chicago during the cham
pionship match and while there would
issue q challenge. Thus far there ~ no
official information that he has chal-
lenged Hc has until April Q. ten days
after the decision OF tho recent match.
in which TO file challenge. II Cochran
challenges. SchaefcT will have to play IN
not less than twenty nor moro than
thirty days. Thereafter no match will
be played until November.
The order In which other eiigibies may
make bids for championship honors Is
Cont, Horemans, Aforningstar and SUIT
ton. Cont. now In France. hopes to re-
turn In September Horemans. who has
announced that he will remain In this
country all summer. may challenge.
MornIrestar and Sutton are not likely
10 exercise their privileges.
The sixth annual renewal or the
Poagenbfrg Memorial Gun baltl'ne bill
lard tournament, under the auspices OF
the National Association Of Amateur
RNiiard Players, will be inauEurated at
the Rational Recreation Academy,