BILLIARDS EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3093, 25 May 1917, Page 3

BILLIARDS EXHIBITION

JiV (ilvOmiK (.iUAV. An exhibition of billiards was uivuu by tho cliitmiuun. Omij-kis Ura.y, in liio Cciilrtil Milliard.i'firloui', Lainjiion Quay, last nigiii. .it"in .buiiiu seven or eight ytars since \\v ; last saw (Jcorgc Gray in .New Zealand. Jlo was a nicro lad ihcn with nil uncanny skill in losing hazards oil' tho red ball, and it was boloio ho luul educated tho billiiu'ds experts in UiiKlmid iu tho possibilities of tho red ball play. .Now ho is no longer a boy. UioiiKli still vfiry young to }jo ono of llio vory bust ot' the world's billiardists, ami lio is jilaying u moro varied, and llicrpforo more attractive, and not less skilful or less effective, game. Hie opponent last was Mr. \V. N. Tucker, a well-lcnoHii Wellington aniatour, to whom lie conceded 'M in a game of COO up. Gray's, best effort was a break of !)7. which included at ono sta;<e a series of very difficult allots, but when it appeared that ho h!td got once dgain into a comfortable positloji, he had tho bad luck to fail with an annaraitly simpleone—just as amateurs do. Other breaks made, by the champion -wero 95, 53, 55,' 41, 40, JO. Always his play was intensely interesting, and occasionally it was spectacular. Mr. Tucker was not play-in-* his usiiiid Rwiic, his best break bobs only 23, and tho camo ended G00—4.15, in ti ray's favour. A cumo of snooker was also played, but this was disappointing, as will appear from tho fact that tlio scores were 58—45. Tho balls ran. unkindly, and not onco did Gray get in to make a break. Ho won tho'garuo in tho end by pottintr the- last two balls. Ho concluded his exhibition with a display of trick shots, eomo of which appeared to bo pure wizardry. Incidentally ho gavo to tho 100 or moro spectators who wore- present a few vnry useful and sound tips eiliout the gamo.