A Review of the Season

Having reviewed the work of the leading amateurs a week ago, the task now devolves upon me of running the rule over the achievements of the professional element during the past season. At this stage, it is something of a platitude to repeat that it has been the best season billiards has ever known. The rise of young Tom Newman to the front rank, the introduction of George Gray as an ivory ball player, the greatest championship in the history of the game, and the sensational happenings in the course of the struggle for the blue riband, have all combined to render the 1913-14 session a notable landmark in the game.

Looking back on the work of the season as a whole, and carrying memory back through all the years that I have known billiards, I cannot recall a campaign that has been so fruitful of surprises and sensations as the one we are passing under review. I need not particularize these sensational happenings here, for below you will find the whole history of the professional season, game by game, and event by event. Rather would I emphasize the splendid achievements of the younger generation of professionals, such as Newman, Gray, Claude Falkiner, Willie Smith, and Arthur Peall. Newman won the big tournament without dropping a point, Peall was runner-up in the same event, Falkiner gave evidence of coming well to the front in his big games of the season. Willie Smith earned distinction by beating Newman twice on level terms, whilst the young Australian, despite the disappointment in the championship, has proved no mean exponent with the, to him, unfamiliar ivory balls.

All these things are decidedly hopeful for the future of the game, and prove to us that we have players coming along likely to rival the deeds of the old brigade. The personnel of the leading division is already undergoing a process of alteration, and this will become more accentuated during the next year or two with the "young blood" showing such determination in their efforts to climb to the top of the tree.

With the complete set of figures-set out below, there is really no need for me to serve up anything in the shape of "trimmings." They tell their own story:&151;

CHAMPIONSHIPS

• The Championship.—M. Inman, T. Reece.
• B.P. Association.—T. A. Dennis, F. Harwood.
• North London.—E. Hoskin, A. Brown.
• Welsh.—T. Carpenter, J. Ball.
• Yorkshire.—H. Taylor,.
• Glasgow.—D. Christie, J. Quinn.
• One-Handed.—J. Jevons, F. Collins.
• Music Hall.—Sam Mayo, Will Ino.

OTHER COMPETITIONS

• B. and W. Tournament.—T. Newman, A. F. Peall.
• Preliminary Tournament.—A. F. Peall, J. Harris.
• B.P.A. Handicap.—J. Elston, H. Norris.
• Welsh Markers' Tournament.—P. Harding, G. Luxworth
• Leeds Charity Handicap.—H. Taylor, A. E. Jones (amateur). (Open to amateurs and professionals.)

ALL THE "500's."

• George Gray with Bonzoline (25).—1,001, 980, 963, 959 887, 860, 860, 854, 843 (unfinished), 823, 820, 758, 717, 689 667, 568, 567, 563, 561, 547, 544, 542, 538, 518, 509.
• George Gray with Ivory (11).—743, 662, 662, 658 634 585, 574, 574, 552, 520, 517.
• M. Inman (4).—744, 676, 510, 510.
• H. W. Stevenson (6).—919, 789, 724, 648, 590, 572.
• Tom Reece (5).—675, 618, 610, 553, 552.
• E. Diggle (2).—528, 517.
• T. Aiken (3).—612, 590, 505.
• Tom Newman (5).—610, 576, 539, 532, 526.
• W. Smith (1).—524.

THE SEASON'S RECORDS

1913

• Sept. 15.—Breaks of 675 and 618 completed at one session by T. Reece against C. Falkiner, at Thurston's (world's record with ivory baits).
• Sept. 17.—Claude Falkiner made his record break of 413 against Reece.
• Oct. 7.—H. W. Stevenson created a new world's record for ivory balls with a break of 919 against C. Harverson.
• Nov. 26.—Willie Smith created a new world's red ball record with ivory balls with a run of 516 (full break 524) against Breed at Derby.
• Nov. 27.—E. C. Breed made his record break of 326 against W. Smith.
• Dec. 31.—M. Inman created a new Scottish record with a break of 676 against Aiken.
• Dec. 31.—T. Aiken made his record break of 590 against Inman.

1914

• Feb. 6.—George Gray, using ivory balls, made 543 off red in a break of 634 against Newman - a world's record.
• Feb. 10.—C. Harverson made his record break of 631 against W. Cook.
• Feb. 28.—Tom Newman made his record break of 610 against Stevenson in the tournament.
• March 14.—Tom Aiken created a new personal record with a break of 612 against Newman.
• March 21.—M. Inman created a new record for the championship with a break of 744 against Reece.
• April 4.—George Gray made his record break of 743 with ivory against J. Ball.
• May 12.—George Gray created a new world's red ball break with ivory of 654 (full break 658) against Newman at Manchester.

SUMMARY OF LEADING MATCHES