BILLIARDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1205, 14 August 1911, Page 2

BILLIARDS.

[Bv Marker.]

Prank Smith's feat in winning the markers' tournament from the way-back position of 150 behind scratch is a most notable one, and his break-making deeds easily hold the world's record in. similar events. In a way, his figures of 343. 311, 252, 215, and 202 in games, of 6EO, against a new faco in each bout, withbarely time lo gut warm, aro more than surprising. In big professional games, breaks of any importance are ' rarely made until the players get accustomed to tho "strength of the table, and the weight and run of the balls. The promising players of the tournament were- A. Thomas, Frank Smith, jun!'., and Fred Weiss, junr. All tho '■ "old stagers" are satisfied to plod along from year to year without attempting to improve their game. Frank Smith truly remarked: "Because I had the industry to put in an hour's practice each day to improve my game, I presume that 1 will bo put so far back next tournament that it will be necessary to get a field-glass to seo me." SloveiiTon, since he has Eton his published interviews from Freniantlt, has been filled with some concern, that in his comments on tho red loser game ho has been made to say 'ono or two things which may easily be misconstrued, and for which he has, in some quarters, been taken to task. The English champion has been throughout ono of tho staunchest admirers of the skill with which Gray handles the red ball, and when he said its attractions were on the wane, he was stating a plain fact known to every liabituo of London rooms; but there is ahead of Gray next season a.ny amount of new ground, whereon he "will, no doubt, reap the reward of his amazing skill., Stevenson, however, looking into the future, thinks—and most people must think with him—that if professional billiards is to continue a means of livelihood, some limitation will have to bo put to the- stroke. . In speaking of the Ted ball stroke as a "freak" stroke, Stevenson did not intend to' u=e the- term in any opprobrious senss; indeed, as ho puts it, to the onlooker long successions of red losers become much like Cinquevalli performing a few of his best feats over and over again; in other words, the freak is not in the phot, but in the marvellous acquisition of skill at the command of tho executant which enables him to go on repeating H'.' Curiously enough, too, tho proper meaning of the word "freakish" is variegated or checkered, nnd from that has come to mean "fancy" or whimsical, or out of the common. Tho spot-stroke wss. legitimate until a freak player made it into a freak shot, and in defence of the game itself the shot was restricted; so with the "anchor" and "cradle" cannons, the genius of a singlo player brought about their, downfall. Legitimate as all were, and are in themselves, just as is the "red loser, the restriction was deemed essential in the interests of tho game, and for no other, reason. Moreover, there are few who will fay that those limitations were not made in wisdom. Peall and Reece were in this sense sacrificed on the altar of "the game"; therefore, why not Gray? Wo aro told there is glory in martyrdom, but it would saem that Stevenson, in sonic circles, is not to be, allowed the minor crown of the. prophet, and, unlike most prophets, he speaks by tho book. Again, knowing as much as he dot"!, Stevenson has been rash (f) enough to advise Lindrum to make the three-ball game his foundation if. he covets success as a working professional. onc3 more, who is better qualified than Stevenson or licece, who have gone through the mill, to know where the bread and butter of the game is to come from in the long nnif Everybody knows that by existing rule?, under which in all probability the championship will next be played, tho only thing that can save Stevenson, from defeat at the hands of Gray, ana Lindrum, too, will be tho ivory ball,' and even that would be a slender wed to count on. But, going further, and assuming that no restrictions aro made until one of the Australians has won the honour, is it likely that the red lowr will bo allowed to stand unrestricted? Experienco tells us no, and that is no more and no Jess than can bs attached to'tho meaning of any of Stevenson's utterances on tho subject.