The B.C.C. Professional Championship

From the point of view of attendance, the B.C.C professional championship match just concluded at the Holborn Hall, between M. Inman and T. Reece, eclipsed any of its predecessors. The play was also good in the second week, and at times quite engrossing in its interest, but the first week was disappointing from the spectacular point of view on account of the excessive use that was made by both contestants of safety tactics, and the subduing effect that such tactics had upon the players themselves.

The last session but one in this match will long be remembered in connection with championship encounters, Reece wiping out Inman's great lead with a break of 535 and other good contributions, only to lose it badly again in the same session, when Inman came along with a string of big breaks, including one of 522, or only thirteen less than Reece's. It was reminiscent of Stevenson's day in the 1911 championship, when the then champion produced a 528 and 532 in successive sessions.

The story of the play—Good Friday being left blank, and an extra day being substituted on March 31—has been given as below by The Sporting Life in a more concentrated and practical manner than any mere descriptive language could convey: —

Inman: First Week

Century breaks in order of compilation (21):—296, 115, 128, 183, 144, 132, 163, 176, 132, 126, 154, 170, 141, 141, 208, 116, 110, 178, 177, 122, 111.

Reece: First Week

Century breaks in order of compilation (22):—191, 112, 250, 187, 153, 135, 227, 108, 111, 249, 104, 148, 125, 154, 140, 112, 155, 160, 160, 199, 173, 109.

Of the total number of innings taken by the players 119 of Inman's were drawn blank and no fewer than 144 of the Lancastrian's resulted in no score, but even when these are deducted one finds that the average rate of the scoring in the remaining hands works out to no more than 39.42 per innings by Inman and 43.04 by Reece. Again, the aggregate time occupied in actual play during the five days amounts to 24 hours 45 minutes per session, giving the moderate yield of (roughly) 541 points per hour.

Complete Analysis of Match

Complete Averages for Match

Three-figure Breaks

The following "century" breaks were compiled during the game. They are given in the order of compilation:—

Inman (56).—296, 115, 128, 183, 144, 132, 163, 176, 132, 126, 154, 170, 141, 141, 208, 116, 178, 177, 122, 111, 147, 115, 112, 144, 112, 120, 172, 171, 120, 126, 105, 124, 223, 187, 307, 107, 119, 146, 414, 104, 211, 218, 111, 413, 138, 160, 167, 195, 107, 522, 152, 339, 187, 238, 265, 101 (unfinished).

Reece. (57).—191, 112, 250, 187, 153, 135, 227, 108, 111, 249, 104, 148, 125, 154, 140, 112, 155, 160, 160, 199, 173, 109, 132, 191, 127, 111, 101, 343, 240, 200, 148, 190, 223, 246, 161, 160, 230, 253, 350, 104, 178, 268, 104, 228, 117, 157, 129, 237, 101, 260, 180, 174, 133, 120, 535, 176, 146.

Breaks of "500" or over in all championship matches under the auspices of the Billiard Association and Billiards Control Club now stand as follows:—

• 648 by Stevenson v. Diggle, April 2, 1900.
• 534 by Dawson v. Stevenson, January, 1901.
• 528 by Stevenson v. Inman, April 28, 1911.
• 532 by Stevenson v. Inman, April 28, 1911.
• 535 by Reece v. Inman, March 31, 1913.
• 522 by Inman v. Reece, March 31, 1913.

For the fifth consecutive time Mr. J. P. Mannock ably managed this great annual event; leading members of the Billiards Control Club acted in succession as referees; and the scores were smartly called by A. Lloyd.