BILLIARDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16749, 2 June 1922, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

GAMES AND PLAYERS.

(By “ CUE.’’) A big handicap billiard tournament is at present iu progress at the Returned Soldiers* Club rooms. The games are 100 up, and the first prize is a trophy valued at £2 10s. The entries are very largo, consequently it will be some time before the final is played. 1 he following are the results to datesFirst round—P- Jackson (20 behind) beat H. Turner (35 behind), 100-61; A. lving (15 on) beat W. E. Leadley (20 on) by default ; R. Hardie (30 behind) beat W. Lee (scr), 100-46; O. Muir (25 on) beat E. Cade (15 on) by default; H. Vernazoni (scr) beat B. Moore (30 on), 100-97; M. Turnbull (30 behind) beat B. Stewart (10 on), 100-21; A. Baldwin (scr) beat lb. Powell (15 on), 100 65 ; J. Helms (30 behind) beat C. James (15 behind), 100-84; R. C. Butters (90 behind) beat W. J. Collins (30 behind). 100-83. The following who had byes in the first round won their games in the second round :—J. Gray (30 behind) ; F. ChampnoF? (45 behind) ; A. Odam (lO behind) ; H. Bosusto (scr); I*. Craighead (30 behind) ; J. Jamieson. (15 on) ; 1). Burnside (30 behind); H. Ritchie (60 behind); T. Since (30 on); J. Elliott (scr) ; E. Blackwell (15 behind) ; P. Diobert (scr) ; W. J. Cunningham (scr) ; L. Seeker (50 behind) ; H. M* Learn (120 behind) ; L. Wilson (20 on); K. Clark (40 behind) ; J. Forrest (35 behind) ; T. MalInck (scr) ; G. Joy (15 on) ; W. Graham (scr) ; H. Whitfield <lO behind) ; H. Pauhi (scr) ; C. Round (15 behind) ; and M. Tumbell (30 behind). Only six games 3 1 are so far been played in the third round. All games in this round must l>e finished by June 3. The Auckland Amateur Sports Club recently conducted a very successful handicap billiard tournament. The games were ail of 500 up, and a number of very close finishes resulted, one player being only beaten by two points. The final was played between Higgle and Roberts. The latter will be re jii.embered as a contestant at the last New' Zealand amateur championship held in Christ church the first week of last August. Roberts was handicapped at 40 points and Higgle at 65 points Roberts commenced play with a sound break of 53, and simple “ leaves ” in the last 100 points allowed him to score breaks of 21, 49 and 29 unfinished, he winning by 76 points. Onlj one century break was made during the tournament, that being a 117 by Roberts. V Walter Lindrum’s performance on the green cloth against Stevenson, who was champion of England some years ago. stamps him as a player of superb merit (says a writer in the Southland “ Hally News ”). He is not to be confused with bis elder brother Fred, who is the Dominnl champion billiardist of Australia, but a better player. Fred himself Is good enough when in the humour to stand against the best exponents of the game, and put up a good showing, but he is not the equal of his brother. The question, arises, why is Fred champion?' —a title he has hold for quite a number of years. The reply is that he has met Walter on some half-dozen times in public. but insists on conceding him points. The invariable result has been a win for Walter, but. having received a start he could not claim the champion ship. Another obstacle is that Fred’s big brother imposes restrictions to suit himself, one being a limitation of red ball play, <*t which, as shown in his game with Stevenson, Walter is a past master. Walter could, no doubt, have claimed the championship had lie cared to do so. and if the title had been in the hands of anyone but his brother he would probably have done so before this. A couple of years ago an attempt was made by Australian enthusiasts to induce Walter to visit England and compete in the championship, and it appeared that he would go. when suddenly he announced that he was doing i better financially where lie was than : he could expect to do in the Old Country. He is proprietor of a large billiard room which is returning him hand some profits. It is interesting to men tion that Walter Lindrum met Clarw M’Conachy on the latter’s visit to Australia a little time before his tour of New Zealand. M'Conachy, in conversation with the writer, remarked regarding the match that both were playing at their best, and though he lost be thought he could have pressed Lindrum more than he did bid he resorted to safety play. As it was. he said he played a free, open game that let Lindrum in on occasions with large breaks. The game between the Australian and Neiv Zealander was 16.000 up. and the averages were : Liudt urn 70. M'Conachy 60, which must be ronsidered very good. Mack wanted another match, but Lindrum would not £ire it to him. Though Fred is nominally champion of the Commonwealth, those who follow the game seriously do | not subscribe to his claim, but give Walter the palm ; so Stevenson was up against something very tough when the pair met. Some acquainted with Stevenson’s career were rather surprised when we were told by cable that be had started on another world’s tour, ns 1 he impression existed that, he was far from (he form which startled spectators on bis peregrinations of years ago, when be included Invercargill* in the. places he played in. In England he is completely outclassed by Smith, Inman, Newman, Falkiner and Reece, and perhaps there are others in that country who would also win at every meeting However, the Knglishmnn would no doubt build on hi? reputation as an ex-

world s champion, and probably, wherever he goes, be will do well financially. Though Stevenson is a good cueist, the writer would not give him credit for business acumen. A cute business man would have delayed a meeting with Lindrum till the end of the tour. He could have visited th© various States of the Commonwealth, met the local champions with perhaps unvarying success, come to New Zealand and then returned to Australia, where a match could have been arranged with Lindrum. Instead of that bo has met live best at the start of his journey and made a poor display, which will probably react on the financial results of the tour. Fred Lindrum has comoiled a world’s record break of 1417. playing against Stevenson. and an Australian record off the red of IAiT2, performances that will atattract the attention of the coterie of professionals in England, who appear to regard their skill as superior to that, of any billiardist elsewhere. It rt. however. only fair to Newman and Co. to say that whenever a visitor arrives from other parts, he is well received, and given every chance to show what he can do pitted against the best in th© Okl Countrv. Stevenson will be in Australia for three months, then come over to New Zealand.