BILLIARD CHAMPIONS

Evening Star, Issue 19142, 8 January 1926, Page 5

BILLIARD CHAMPIONS

SOME OF THEIR lETSSYSSBASIES SSSEBTS'S SHOWESSBSIP [By “C.U.E.,” in the Mebourna 'Argus.’] Several of the leading professional billiard players have been noted lor their “ litUc nays'.” Roberts was one ol them. After making a shot, for example, ho would always leave his bridge hand resting lor a moment or two on llie table, but as soon as ho had delivered his cue ho would drop his thumb and lold it under the palm of his hand. It. was a.n unconscious trick, borne of bis mannerisms, however, were deliberate, and were adopted lor the sake of “ showmanship,” of which, bo was a, past master. A, wellknown one was his way of picking up • the cue ball (when it was in band, of course) and wiping it on his shirt sleeve. In doing so bo set a fashion which has been followed by every professional. _ Roberts often rubbed his ball in this way when it was guiltless ol having picked up any chalk. As far ms 1 could judge lie always did it when ho was confronted by a really difficult shot. From a .showman’s point of view tin's wa.s thoroughly justified, for it ate ; forded him a moment to calculate pos«« sibilitics, and it also raised the expeo- ■; tatiou of the spectators. I Another of his “little ways”'—but ■ this no other player lias ventured to . imitate—was turning his back on the balls and walking to the baulk end of ; Hie table immediately after ho had delivered for a run-through along tiro top cushion. This was most effective, for if he brought the shot off the spectators wore awed by an exhibition of such confidence. On the other hand, if he did „ not score. Ins well-simulated amaze-1 inont would greatly amuse the room- 1 Everything lie did, indeed, in conncc- , tion with billiards was in a class of its own. Ho could ask for the rest, , the half-bntfc, or the long rest as no; one else could. He never spoke out, but made Ins request to the marker in \ a penetrating whisper, which impressed everyone present, though why we-could !• not say. j ROBERTS AND WEISS. Roberts never wasted a moment at the table, and ho always came to it immaculately groomed. Ordinarily he was perfectly self-possessed, but undue hesitancy in play, on the part of his opponent or slovenliness in dress would always upset his balance. I remember Weiss doing this many years ago, when .the two were playing a match at the Athenaeum. Weiss hobbled into the room one afternoon in a pair of list slippers. He apologised to Roborts,,saying that his foot were tender. Roberts said nothing; ho merely glared. The slippers annoyed the champion, and annoyance did not improve his play. , On another occasion during this i match Weiss (who was the incarnation I of “ stodginess ” at the table) played even more slowly and ponderously than usual. For one shot lie first bad the, half-butt, then lie said ho would take the long rest, but he altered his mindi once more, and remarked that ho would play the shot left-handed. Ro-i berts meanwhile was chafing under tho i delay. Wien Weiss had at last made ■ tho shot he turned to Roberts, and' said, very deliberately, “I’m afraid, I Mr Roberts, my slow way of playing! annoys you.” “Ton’re not exactly a flush of lightning, Mr Webs, replied l Roberts. The reply came swift as a rapier thrust.

THE DISCONCERTING MATCH, j Wien a player is M on the stroke "'; ho naturally objects to anyone in his' line of sight striking a match. This | not only puts a man off his shot, but j in some cases, especially if ho misses j when the game is at a .stage, j it will put him out of temper for tboj rest of the session. There are cxeep-j tions, however, and Shorter, the great-' spot-stroke playem, was one of them. ■ Once, when he was in the very act of j delivering for a red winner off the bil- J liard spot, a spectator, who warn sit-; ting in line with tbo spot and in the' front row, struck .a wax match to light his cigar, and thereby completely' dazzled Shorter, Ho missed tiro shot, i but, instead of losing Jiis temper, ho wont to tiro offender andnai3 0 “ Pieaso don’t do that again, for, though I can got. on the 1 spot ’ whenever 1 like, and stay there as long as I like, still it is not worth while throwing away a chance.”

Shorter, who in 1877, carno smhlenly into fame, was regarded by some judges as the linest player, or, _at any rate, the greatest scorer of Ids day. ilo had an unusual temperament. Few men ran cat eel at something they do not care about, hut .Shorter excelled at billiards, though he had no liking at all for the game, lie simply haled practice, and, therefore, he woiihl not practice. If lie was going to take part in a tournament or a match he div pended on playing himselt into lorni. during the game. His health had never been 7:ood. and in he developed consumption. .IPs only chance of recovery. he was told, was a voyags t,n Australia, and he cook the advice; but it was too late, and lie dice at Oenih(piin in August, ISdo. EDWARD EICELE.

Of all the players I'kiward Higgle was perhaps the greatest “ charm-ter,’’ Although he had The keenest, sen.so of humor, ho looked the very picruioof melancholy. Hi.; technique, like las expression, was all his overt; ho had no *asi,l bridge, lor example, ior ho would just put his left' hand fiat on the 1a We and would play sometimes between bis thumb and sometimes through his forefinger, and not seldom between his first and second lingers, hie was a very great player, howmCT. and with more ambition lie .might well have won the championship, for ho snceerded several times in sounuiy heating Slevcnsoi) when that layer hold the, title. He was line, at the top of the table hut', as he used to say in in's marked .Lancashire accent, _“ Ah doan't believe in playin’ tin* bails too well. Ab like In ‘keep thorn well sop-t ftrated. and then Ah find they doan’t ‘ cover ’ as often as they do ri plav like tScveuson.” _ t When he was in Australia some years mro 1m was playing in Sydney against. Fred Lind rum. The red loser was very • iusliinniihlc ilioti. ;ind in convso ni the game Higgle dribbled t-he wbire over the eon! re in position for_s loser. Aider regarding the ball with VW ; greatest graviiy for some moments be turned to the spectators and said. “ Oentlcmou. you’ve seen a, lot ol ml ball play: now yon shall see a world's record off ihe v.lme. ’ Aren] greallanghte.r lie succeeded in doing l.ms wild) 110 consecutive while losers. Perbans it was been use be looked so dismal that Hie spec!s!ms did not like to applaud him too much, though ho was n favorite with the public: but Diegle liked applause, though it seemed rather to depress I hart to cheer h"n up. Once when lie bad a verv clever shot which passed unnoticed, be put down his me. clanped his bards hcartilv. and said. “"Well done. Edward Higgle, lad.” Then ho went gravely on with his break.