THE BILLIARD CHAMPION.

Evening Star, Issue 4198, 10 August 1876, Page 4

THE BILLIARD CHAMPION.

’ We are not likely to have Mr J. Roberts, jun., amongst us for some time, as the ‘Australasian’ of the sth inst. says that “after performing in several of the principal country towns of Victoria, the' English champion will proceed to Sydney overland, stopping on his way at Albury, Wagga, and other towns in New South Wales. After playing in Sydney for a week, he will probably visit Newcastle, Maitland, and Bathurst; then to Sydney, thence to Adelaide and New Zealand, returning to Melbourne, so as to play at the Athcnrsum during the Melbourne Cup week, when he will no doubt be largely patronised. In New' Zealand, Roberts will meet the best billiard player in the southern hemisphere. This is Mr Weston, w’ho is an adept at the spot stroke, and will therefore have’ a chance against the champion at less odds than have

been conceded to Victorian players. If possible; 1 Roberts will induce Weston to return to Victoria with him, in order to play exhibition games with him. After his Australian tour is finished, Roberts purposes to go Home by the Suez mail, and will probably play in Calcutta, Bombay, and Madras. At Ballarat, on the Ist inst., Roberts played .swift at billiards at Craig’s Hotel, giving him 600 out of 1,000. The champion was in fine play, and made the highest break yet scored in the Colony by anyone. Swift played very well too, having sored to Roberts’s 390. When the game stood Roberts 390, Swift 785, the former got in and scored 61, when by accident the white ball J wift'al dromied into a Docket.

leaving only two balls on the table. Roberta continued his break having got into position for the spot-stroke, as the white ball went down —and scored 118 spot strokes in succession, making his break up to 415, and bringing his score from 390 to SUS. This ssemed to cow Swift a little, but he continued till hoberts scored out in one hour and forty minutes, Swift standing at 850. The following is Professor Carme’s reply to Roberts s challenge : “Mr Roberts offers me 600 in 1,000 up at billiards, which is both satisfactory and generous, because I know nothing of winning hazards, losing hazards, spot strokes, or push canons. He

then proposes to take 600 in 1,000 up at canons, which he has practised and shone in ever since ho pjayod at billiards (although in your issue of the 22ud he is said to have coupled his challenge to me with the statement that ho ‘ has little or no experience in the French game,’ i.e., canons). However, as 1 prefer playing a match -without either receiving or giving points (in fact, giving Mr Roberts the advantage of winning hazards, losing hazards, spot strokes, and push canons-, while I have duly canons to depend upon), I propose the following ; —Wo play 1,1.00 up. Mr Roberts to play on a champion billiard-table (as used for the championship in- 1 oudon), 1 to playon tho canon-table made by Mr Alonck for me ; the usual points to count-as at billiards, each canon to count two points. So soon as one has finished his break on Iris tabic the o her commences to play on the other table (his own). He who scores 1,200 points first to be the winner of the match. —I am, &c., Pierre Oarme. P. -l— From the above it must be apparent that the French canon game cannot be such an easy one as the public were too ready to pronounce it w-ln-n first I appeared in public, or Mr Roberts, the champion of England, would not demand such odds.—P. 0.”