A NOTED BILLIAEDIST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1983, 13 February 1914, Page 5

A NOTED BILLIAEDIST.

FANCY-SHOT EXPERT.

There is at present touring New Zealand Mr. A. Taylor, a tyell-loiowii Yorkshire billiardist, Arriving in New Zealand on October 18 of last year lie travelled the length of New Zealand while the 1913 strike was at its worst and now tliat comparative peace lias settled en the Dominion lie intends giving, exhibitions in the various centres. At tho early age of 16 Mr. Taylor made his debut as a professional tnlliardist and from then on his career lias been one of advancement. His first big mateh was against Reece at Leeds for £100 aside. This match was the turning point in the life of the two .youths as the winner was to be ■ Selected as a player in that y-ear's biff London tournament. The match, was 0000 up, and Heece- was the -winner. "That match Eettied our future t<3 a great extent," said Mr. Taylor. "Heece got the centre of the stage at one step, so to speak, and has had much of the limelight ever since." Since then Mr. Taylor, besides playing billiards, lifts dofle muck travelling, and- has probably played the same m more countries -than any other living professional. He has toured right through, South Africa to" Rhodesia, India, Burma, Malay States, . Sumatra, waits Settlement, Java, Song-Koiiß, North China—from Shanghai to Hankosv—and most of the large cities of Japan. In South America his travels included Peru, the Argentine, Uruguay, »iid Chile. In South America mostly Continental billiards are played, but iii tho clubs at Buenos Ayres" and Valparaiso, there are many English tables. In speaking of his travels in the Far East Mr. Taylor remarked that there uiauy ■excellent- cueists were to be found. "Tho best that I met in India," he added, "was Ramphal Shaw, a, Hindu, rocated in Madras, and at one time talked of as a coming champion of the coloured world. Chinaraen as a whole were not above the ordinary, and few even reached the average. ' Count KonHira, however, is an exception, and from his style, wliieh he received from his English tutor, I should }uda;e him- to be one of the foremost billiardists of his country. English tables are unfortunately not over-plentiful in Japan, tho pccketless Continental game being mostlv played. This I naturally found .strange, and I certainly don't- think the Continental game can be compared fav* ourably witli the -.English. One of thp best men I have met of the.Continental game players was Yamadi San, the present Japanese champien. His record is 5410 cannons, which is sufficient proof ■of his marvellous skill," Mr. Taylor, on December 20 of last year, defeated W, Stevenson, the champion of New Zealand, at Inverc'sfgill, after-ctneetl-nific 150 hi 000. His largest break was 201. Unlike many of the kings of the doth Mr. Taylor dees 'not tontine'himself to a particular branch of the ctamo, but fc said ,to excel in all,' It is also said <if him that ho can perform wonders with the aid of wine glasses, skittlpS) porcelain eggs, etc."