BILLIARDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1198, 5 August 1911, Page 12

BILLIARDS.

[Bv' Marked.'J

STEVENSON AND LINDRUM.

The news that H. W. Stevenson, champion billiardist of the world, and Fred. Lindrum, the Australian champion, liavo been matched over a, long game, will bo satisfactory information for those who hoped for some such meeting. So far, the youthful Australian champion has more than held his own against Reece in long games, and now lie has arranged to play two matches against Stevenson at • Sydney, commencing 011 August 21, nnd at Melbourne on September 4. In these he will receive a start of 4000 in IS,(100, but he has agreed not to make mom than twenty-live cousecutko losing hazards. It is a strango handicap 011 Lindrum's side —first, to accept 4000 start in 'what is purely an exhibition game, and then to practically close 011 c of his scoring routes. However, as an experiment of limiting the red,, it will bo interesting to see if any hazard limitation puts the closure 011 big breaks to any extent. I do not think that the proposed game will be a success. A far better patronage winner would lie a serious match for supremacy oft scratch, under the rules of billiards which govern the game in Great Britain and its Dominions. Such a match would create a widespread interest that no experiment game can command. It would appear as if tho Australian was outwitted by Stevenson in this finessing, for, no matter how tho match may be viewed as a speculation, the fact remains that tho rules of billiards are not being complied with. Australian critics consider that Lindrum has made unwise arrangements. First, he should not lia>>6 accepted the start;' and, secondly, ho should have stuck to tho. rules. A much better plan would have been to play Stevenson 18,000 level, and arrange not to take on the red to any extent unless he was behind his points. That was tho lilan, I understand, lie adopted in his Svd.ney game with R-eece, and it suited all parties to a "T." Lindrum states that ho believes that the Australian public are growing tired of the shot, and that was why ho did so little with the red hazard when playing against Recce lately. ' 1 Interviewed in Melbourne last weckend, Lindrum said: "I am going Home, and, in regard to tho losing hazard there, if I should meet Gray, I will make as many as I can off.the red, and, if possible, just"a few more. As regards other players I rnav meet, however, I shall stick to til J old-fashioned game, They have

lmd Gray for a good many months at tho new-fashioned one, and 1 don't think they would caro to seo me running big scores off the red alone. Billiards (excepting against Gray) I consider should be played with threo balls. Of course, I recogniso that, in meeting Stevenson, I have 110 easy "task in front of mo. If I have a good start, I am handicapped by tlio restriction on the number of hazards that can bo made eonscchtively. However. 1 hopo to acquit myself creditably, whether I shpuld win or lose." Melbourne Inman has expressed a desiro to play Gray a match next January for ,£2OO lip to' <CSOO with ivory balls. Latest English fdes to hand inform us that ho was hesitating whether to publicly challenge the Australian, and then decided not to do so. Gray has never claimed tho same skill with ivories as with crystalates, and it is certain that ho would not onler upon such a match without long and assiduous practice. At the dinner given by Mr. Harry Gray, as a wind-up to the match against Inman, Mr. Gray- pointed out, during conversation, that his son's practice with ivories had been nil. That being so, it would be idle to expect developments until Inman had returned from South Africa, for which colony he left on June 21. Gray has now made twenty-four breaks of over a thousand.

It will be learned with regret by thoso interested in billiards that, owing to disquieting cable messages in regard to his wife's health, Mr. T. lieeee has been compelled to cancel his second match with Lindrum and Stevenson. Reece will make his last appearance this season in a match with Lindrum this week. Beece, in company with George Ueid, his manager, will leave by the K.M.S. Orvieto on August D.

The amateur Victoria has been won by Mr. C. \L. Vonder Luft, who defeated Mr. O. M. Cock in the final game. The champion is most fancied for ths Victorian Club tournament, for which trophies of ,£IOO, JCSO, and r£2o aro given. He is playiug under the name of M'lror,