BILLIARDS CHAMPION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20555, 5 May 1930, Page 13

BILLIARDS CHAMPION.

LINDRUM'S GREAT BREAKS. OVERTHROW OF WILLIE SMITH. Special to Herald BT J. N. SHERWOOD. LONDON, March 26. Walter Lindrum, who during tho short season JlO has been playing in England, scored 63 breaks of over 1000 points, including li such efforts in his last match with Willie Smith, has returned home. One result-of his visit has been the overthrow of Willie Smith, who for years lias looked upon himself as the world's greatest player. But the Englishman is now a sadder but wiser man.

Tlio complete overthrow of Smith has not., however, caused any deep regret or heartburning in Ins own country, for Smith, when ho was champion, was a dictator, who showed little sympathy with tlioso who either played against him, or who controlled tho game, ilj declined to participate in tho billiards championship, just bccauso tho venuo did not suit him, and thus reduced the competition to a farce. And now that he has been toppled from his throne, after telling England "how ho was going 10 give Lindrum a tanning," he has acted with very bad grace in declaring his retirement because tho "game ts unclean." English writers are now asking Smith when tho game became "unclean" as ho suggests. Smith has been playing for many years now, and if it is "unclean" to-day, as he asserts, then it must liavo been "unclean" for many years. Maybe tho real reason for Smith's expressed intention to retire is bccauso ho can no longer dictate to those -who organiso the matches. For instance, Lindrum, who is returning, is to tako part in a big world's tournament in this country, as also is Clark McConachy, but Smith is not a competitor. Ho complains of bad treatment, but the truth of the matter is that Smith is now no longer tho ''greatest," and consequently ho cannot have his own way.

In his last match with Smith, which lie won by over 21,000 points, Lindrum was accused of vindictive play, in that lie showed Smith no mercy Certain admirers of Smith were so incensed at their favourite's distressful exhibition that they wrote anonymous letters to the Australian during tho match, in. which they made vicious attacks on Lindrum s sportsmanship. Tiieso letters undoubtedly upset tho Australian, who uaturaily resented the attack's.

As he explained afterwards, ho had tho luck of the tabic and, being in good form, ho could 'not do anything elso but pile up points. At the same time, however, Lindrum, in return for his splendid reception in this country, had made up his mind bef'j*-c his closing match with Smith, that he would try to give Lis vc-rv best. AriO he did —but his idea was not to "rub it in."