BILLIARDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1192, 29 July 1911, Page 12

BILLIARDS.

[By Marked.]

STEVENSON ON THE LOSEB. The most important event in the billiard world during tho past week has been the arrival in Australia of H. W. Stevenson, the English professional champion, who is on a pleasure trip, but who will also combine a little business with pleasure. Tho distinguished cueist interviewed at I'reinantle, made tho' following hard condemnation regarding the losing 'hazard stroke:—"lt's got to go." Of course, Mr. Stevenson's opinion is purely a personal 0110, but, coming from such a gifted player, makes interesting reading. "It had its vogue while it was a novelty. All freak strokes enjoy that experience. But look what little interest was taken in that Innmn-Uray match! It was very poorly attended? Interest. is waning in tho two-ball game. That's the reason." Stevenson was asked if it would take Gray long to obtain the same proficiency with the ivory balls as he possessed with composition. Ho replied: "1 think it will lako him a long while. Of course, not so long as it would take an ordinary amateur to attain a professional status, because Gray is nlready possessed of fine cnemanship. ¥ou must realise that' it is far harder to exploit the losing haznrd gaino with ivory balls. Tho composition ball throws off at a greater angle than does ivory. Because of this, tho losing hazard game is generally played iu the middle pocket, i will explain it this way: With a composition ball throwing oft at a wider angle, it is comparatively easy to sneak in off it from baulk, and make the next shot a long losor, or else to go into the middle pocket at a < natural angle, and hit tho red object ball hard enough to bring it back lo tho middle pocket and obtain tho losiiig hazard position again.' If you were playing with ivory bails, and the object was placed between tho centre spot of the table and tho ball, because of the lesser angle of ivory, you would have to hit the red object to get into the middle pocket so hard that the red (as the result of tho striking) would come off the cushions down too far for. a certain in-off shot. Tho fact that you would have to make moro long losers with the ivory balls is also a great stumbling block." "Do you think that the shot will be barred t"

"Well I think it will bar itself. Peoplo don't go twice to see Gray play. As I said before, tho inman-Gray match was but poorly attended, which is a very fair indication that public opinion will kill

On hearing that it was Lindrum's intention to return with Keeco to England about September next to enter the English championship of 1912, and challenge George Urny to the losing hazard game, Stevenson's rejoinder was terse and emphatic. "Lindrum will be very foolish if ho docs not drop the losing hazard. Why, they might as well a-sk tho English professionals to adopt that stroke. What a treat it would bo (this with a touch of cynicism) for tho public to mo both men at tho losing hnzard." From what ho remembers of Lindrum four years ago, he was a line, pretty player, and it would ho a pity to spoil his billiards with this freak shot. Apart from his prowess at the billiard table, Stevenson is, nnliko many professionals, something of a.success socially. He carries with him on his present visit lotlers of introduction—and i,of appreciation— oiio from Lord Alverstono, (I.nrd Chief Justice of England). The Lord Chief Justice speaks uf the billiard champion iis a "personal friend" and, as such, commends him to the personal acquaintanceship cif many notable peoplo —among others the Governor-General of Australia.