W. COOK

THE portrait that we publish this month is that of W. Cook, the late Champion, one of the best players that has ever taken cue in hand. Like all great players, Cook commenced billiards in very early life. Born at Sandy, in Bedfordshire, on the loth June, 1849, he was only eleven years of age when he struck his first ball.

William Cook

Strange to say, no man living can boast of giving W. Cook his first lesson. This honour was reserved to one of the fair sex—Miss Chapman by name. She it was who, in the year 1860, first showed the fair-haired child how to hold his cue, and how to place his chubby fist into the nearest approach to "a bridge." Little, indeed, did she imagine at the time that the little acorn of instruction then sown would so soon grow into the giant oak it has. As little, indeed, did the august assembly in the Chapel Royal at Windsor know that the silver tones of the voice of the little chorister, W. Cook, that rang through its ancient walls, were the tones of one destined himself to be one day a king, though only the king of billiards. Whether the divinity that doth hedge about a king belongs to our hero, the portrait that we this day publish must decide.

Cook began in very early life to give proof of the talent for billiards that he possessed. Amateur players well know how few there are who ever succeeded in scoring a 100 off the balls, yet this feat was accomplished by Cook at the early age of 13. Soon after, in January, 1863, then being only 14, Cook scored a break of 39 consecutive spot strokes. It was about this period that his first encounter with Old Roberts occurred. The veteran player, hearing of the boy's proficiency, visited the billiard room, "The Redan," at Bayswater, then kept by Cook's father, incog., and offering points, met, we believe with a decided defeat, young Cook, of course, having the advantage of playing on a table to which he was accustomed, and also not being made nervous by knowing who the great man was with whom he was contending.

Cook's first appearance in public was at Roberts' billiard rooms in Leicester Square, where he played in a handicap in the year 1864; he was, however, defeated in his first game.

Cook's first public match was with F. Pratt in 1866. He conceded 200 points in a game of 700 up, and won the game by 50. He seems at this period of his career to have improved in his play with gigantic strides, as in his next match with the same player he not only gives him 400 instead of 200, but finally wins the game by 204 points.

His next antagonist was of a far higher order. The late Charles Hughes gave him, on the 7th March, 1867, 100 points in a game of 1,000 up, and defeated him by 90 points. Hitherto, however, these matches had been only exhibition matches.

Cook's first game for money was with Joseph Bennett; the match was for £50 a side, and Cook won by 357 points. His next match was with his present great rival, viz., Roberts, jun.

On December 28th, 1868, these two great players met, we believe, for the first time at any rate for money, at the Bentinck Club, Strand, the stake being £200. Roberts was considerably the favourite at starting, and eventually won the game by 92 points, the time of the play being three hours.

In this match, however, Cook, though defeated, gave such convincing proofs of his abilities that a return match was soon made. On the 29th March, 1869, he again met Roberts, jun. The match, which was played at St. James's Hall, was looked forward to with the greatest interest. Roberts, jun., was generally believed to be superior to his father who for so many years had ruled alone in the world of billiards. Of course, a challenge from the son to the father was out of the question, but it was thought by many that if Cook should win, the old man would hold the championship no longer unchallenged.

The result of the match is well known. Roberts, jun., was defeated, in spite of his splendid play, by no less than 323.

After meeting with a slight reverse in a defeat from the late John Herst, perhaps the most brilliant executionist that ever handled a cue, he quickly showed improved form by beating Herst the three next occasions on which they met.

Soon after, he again defeated Roberts, jun., in a match at the Royal Hotel, Liverpool, making on this occasion the then unprecedented break of 351 off the balls.

At this period of his career Cook commenced that series of wonderful breaks, each one surpassing the former, that caused him to be generally considered the greatest living player, notwithstanding he had not as yet challenged the veteran Roberts. Breaks of 359, 341, 388, and 394 followed each other in rapid succession, and at length the youthful player boldly threw down the glove and challenged the Goliath for the championship.

The result of that great contest is well known. Notwithstanding the alteration in the size of the pockets, the position of the spot, the shape of the D in baulk, all which alterations were supposed to be in favour of the older player; young Cook, at the early age of 20, escaped falling into any of tba pits that had been dug for him, and for the fiist time affixed the proud and fairly earned liitle of champion to his name.

Having won the championship, however, he by no means remained idle, his motto was still Excelsior; soon after, the billiard world was astonished by hearing of two breaks, each over 500, following each other in quick succession. On January 4th, 1871, while playing an exhibition match with Joseph Bennett at St. James's Hall, the still greater feat of scoring 752 off the balls was accomplished, and in November, 1878, while contending with the same player at his rooms in Regent ^Street, Cook crowned hie success with a break of 986, £he largest ever made by any player past or present.

Cook's style of play differs materially from that of Roberts, sen., though, of course, Cook is very much indebted to him for many a lesson in the early part of his career.

Both Roberts, sen., and jun., are in one respect more brilliant players than Cook. By brilliant we do not mean better, but more showy. They both, but especially the old man, are famous for wonderful forcing hazards. Cook, on the other hand, would often employ a slow twist where other men would play hard. There can be no doubt but that this is a higher and more scientific method than the former. Where Cook especially excels is in his wonderful knowledge of strength and position. It is in this respect that he makes the most perfect model of a player that has ever yet appeared. He thinks over every stroke, and would probably, nine times out of ten, be able to say within a few inches what will be the position of the balls after he has played.

Though he has recently lost the championship, as, indeed, we predicted he would, and which he had held ever since May, 1871, still we do not think he will remain ex-champion for long. Billiards is a game at which no professional can afford to stand still. Cook has been somewhat resting on his oars of late years, whereas Roberts, jun., has been in active training, and has been rewarded for his industry by his success.