At a meeting of the Council of the Billiards Control Club held on April 5 a letter from John Roberts, on behalf of George Gray, in which he intimated that Gray wished to compete for the Championship of England in 1912, was considered. The application was thought to be premature, and the secretary was requested to reply to the effect that after the match for the Championship of the present year, which is to be played at the Caxton Hall, April 17-29, the Council would fix dates between which entries for 1912 might be received, when it was hoped Roberts would again apply on Gray's behalf.
That Gray should enter for the Championship was welcomed by the Council, but there is a possibility that some of the conditions which govern the Championship of English Billiards may be modified, and till that is settled it is clearly inadvisable to accept entries. There are questions pending respecting the division of the gate-money, as the present Rule 7 bears rather heavily on the loser; and there is also a question whether the Billiards Control Club, which is at considerable trouble in the matter and put to incidental expense, should not have a small percentage of the gate-money. These matters will be considered by those chiefly concerned, including the professional players, and no doubt a reasonable arrangement will be made.
There can be little doubt that Gray's prodigious breaks of losing hazards off the red ball will also have to be considered with great care. They affect the game, and people fear they will affect the"gate"injuriously; in fact, the same arguments as were urged against the spot stroke will be used. As the points mentioned have not come before the Council comment will be deferred; but there are obvious objections to legislating against any fair stroke simply because one man by skill and practice has brought it to such perfection that his antagonists have no chance.
Mr. Robert Crichton, of Caterham, who has just entered (or, according to some accounts, completed) his hundredth year, played billiards practically every day in his later life until he was 97, and he only gave up his favourite indoor game when failing sight caused him to lose his skill. His interest in the game is, however, unabated, and he follows the records of the prowess of present-day players with considerable interest. Until he was well past 90 he used to come to town to witness the matches in which Roberts took part, and he can recall the great games played by Cook and Bennett and Roberts for the championship.
Inman, having beaten Reece, in the qualifying match at the Billiards Control Club (9,000 to 8,640), will meet Stevenson during the ensuing fortnight, at Caxton Hall, for the professional championship.
A correspondent of The Times suggests that, to avoid monotony, all losers should count two, whether off the red or the white, and that all cannons should count three.
Billiards trains the hand and eye, exercises the brain as well as the body, teaches a man to control his temper, and success is only to be won by perseverance and clean-living.