Preliminary Championship Heats and Title-Holders
In recent years no billiards topic has created more discussion than the official fiat calling upon title-holders to play through the championship competitions. It created a deal of resentment in certain quarters, but to all who approached the subject with calm reason and an appreciation of the logic of facts the edict commended itself as being in the best interests of the game.
It may not be generally known that I was one of the most strenuous supporters of the reform. For several years prior to the Amateur Championship of 1919 I had been impressed with the view that instead of the existing champion being given discretion in the matter, it should be made obligatory for him to line up amongst all the other competitors.
I did not, however, then suggest the change, because of a certain fear that my motive might have been misinterpreted by, amongst others, the champion for the time being. I resolved, however, that if ever I had the honour of winning the title again, I would most certainly submit a proposal that in future the champion should be compelled to play through.
My chance came when I defeated Mr Graham Symes in the challenge round of the 1919 event. As champion I felt my motive could not possibly be misconstrued, so I brought my ideas before the Executive Council.
At first my suggestion did not receive the unanimous approval of my colleagues on the Council, but all the same I intimated my intention of playing through the competition the following year. I did so, and won the title for the second year in succession, and my experiences confirmed my earlier impressions relative to the playing through business.
I held, and still hold, that a great advantage was conferred upon the holder by permitting him to stand down until the Challenge Round.
He came fresh to a game in which he was opposed by a player who had gone through a series of stiff and strenuous struggles. And all who know how much even one strenuous game of billiards saps one's physical and mental capacity will appreciate the handicap suffered by the challenger. There was always a sense of inequality, if not in skill, then in condition, and any sporting event which favours one competitor at the expense of another cannot be right.
And is not the basic principle of all championship events that every competitor should stand "all square," and that there should be no privileges? As I view things, one's lease of Mr. S. H. Fry, the British Amateur Champion, in Action.
the amateur billiards title extends only until the succeeding competition begins. That he has been fortunate enough to gain the laurels one year ought not to confer the least privilege for the next in any succeeding revival.
I hope I am not overstepping the border line of modesty by pointing out that each of my half-dozen championship titles was gained after playing right through. This is a record of which I am intensely proud, and it is now my ambition to eclipse the record of six championship titles (severally held by Mr. Gaskell, Mr. Virr, and myself) by winning for the seventh time under precisely similar circumstances.
I quite appreciate the difficulty of my self-imposed task in the forthcoming event, but shall have no excuses to offer if fate decrees that the title I now hold passes into other hands.