On Christmas Eve there was a flying handicap at Thurston's Hall, Leicester Square, London, for the benefit of Charles Chambers, the clever young marker there. Chambers is really much more than a marker. He calls and marks the game, sends back or spots the ball, hands the rests, announces the breaks— if of a bulk to deserve announcing—and is, on occasion, referee. Furthermore, he has a personality that is almost hypnotic. He would seem to have been destined for the particular niche that he fills in out of those recesses of far-off time in which future careers, both small and great, are supposed by some to be shaped.
The first Christmas Eve flying handicap at Thurston's was held for the benefit of the then well-known and popular commissionaire, Sergt.-Major Fitzgerald. It was a great success, and even for the press seats—vacated for the occasion—£15 is said to have been taken.
Both idea and organisation were the work of the billiard journalist, Mr. Harry Young, who has long reminiscences of the game. The winner of the handicap was F. Weiss, now in Australia, and the following year it was won by B. Elphick, who is at the present time, unhappily, ill in a sanatorium.
At the Chambers benefit last month the players who kindly gave their assistance were Mr. S. H. Fry (the Amateur Champion), Mr. J. R. Hooper, Mr. J. Graham Symes, Mr. W. J. Gask, Mr. G. H. Nelson, and the professionals Smith, Reece, Stevenson, Falkiner, Newman, and Peall.
The handicap was one of 100, and it was won by Mr. W. B. Marshall (rec. 27), who defeated Mr. J. R. Hooper (rec. 25), the Australian champion, in the final by 19 points. Previously Mr. Hooper had triumphed over Reece (rec. 5), Smith (champion) (scr.), and Newman (rec. 5). Indeed, the handicap was full of surprises, as might have been expected when "champions"were playing games of"a hundred up."For example, Newman and Stevenson each received 5 points. Stevenson broke the balls, leaving the red in baulk, and the white"tucked up." Newman went out for a cannon, got it, and ran to his points.