The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-03-26
Hoppe, Cue King,
In odd Time Form
At Chicago Meet
Defeated ChamacO 5O=49
for ii Straight-Den-
ton Runs IL Shots

Chicago, March 26.-(UP)-Wil-
lie Hoppe, Of New York, the cue
wizard, led the field of the worlds
champs three-cushion billiards
tournament today with II consecu-
tive victories and no defeats. He
played with a well worn maplewood
cue he has used SO years.
He extended his lead in the $40, 900
title tournament last night when
he defeated Joe Chamaco, Mexico
City, who claims the title now held
by Weslker Cochran, San Francisco.
He beat Chamaco, so to 40, in 43
innings.
Earlier, Tilford Denton, Kansas
City, Mo-, who is the oldest con-
testant this year. equalled his 81
year old record for high runs with
IL consecutive shots. He first set
the mark In a match with Byron
Gillette at Cleveland and it stood
united and unbeaten until last
night.
Hoppe began playing billiards
when he was six and was so small he
had to stand on a soapbox to swing
his cue over the table. That handi-
cap developed his peculiar side-arm
stroke so unlike the pendulum swing
used by most players. But the
unorthodox form did not keep him
| from winr.ing titles. If he wins this
| tournament 1t will be the second
time he has been three-cuShions
champion.
World Champ at IS
The "boy wonder" first achieved
recognition when he travelled to
Paris when he was IS and defeated
Maurice vienaux for the worlds 1872
balkline championship. He lost
that title two years later but re-
gained it ten years ago when the
balkline game went out Of vogue
about 1925 and in 1886 he defeated
the present champion, Cochran. He
has held the worlds championship
of cushion caroms since 1888.
He modestly admits shooting the
| highest run ever made in the three
cushion game, Is consecutive shots.
But the mark was unofficial because
It was set in an exhibition match.
| His highest balkline run was 622
q phenomenal score because it was
/ not made in q tournament. His
highest official run in 1872 balklil1e
was 3OS against Cochran In 1915,
His highest run in 1871 balkline was
243, in cushion caroms IS.
Much of his success he attributes
to that old cue which, he says, has
Just the right balance" He never
has insured the cue because he
doubts that it would be valuable to
anyone but himself. Aside from the
cue, he has no formula for sue
cess. He smokes about half a pack
age of cigaretS day, seldom drinks
| liquor and plays golf when he can
for an average score Of go.
He is SO now and has begun to
wirder whether he ought to retire.
81 may play few more years, TWO
or three" he said. you Know II
YOU don't quit while you're up there.
they forget how good you ever were.
Jay Bozeman, Vallejo, Cal. de-
feaetd Denton, Kansas City, 50-44.
last night, though Denton equalled
his record Of II runs set 81 years
ago. Johnny Layton, st. Louis
beat Jake Schaefer, Jr- Cleveland.
/ 5O-49, In 81 innings: Otto Reiselt,
Philadelphia, defeated Arthur Ru-
bin, New York, 50-28, IN So innings
and Cochran, San Francisco, de-
tending champion, beat Allen Hail.
Chicago, 50-41.
Games Today
Denton VS. Rubin: Hall VS. Thur
blad; Schaefer VS. Reiselt; Bozeman
VS. Layton.