Original: The first three-cushion billiards tournament took place January 14 - 31, 1878 in St. Louis, with McCreery a participant and New Yorker Leon Magnus the winner.
Simplified: The first three-cushion billiards tournament took place January 14 - 31, 1878 in C. E. Mussey's Room in St. Louis, with McCreery taking part. The tournament was won by New Yorker Leon Magnus.