THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Of the eight games comprising the Second Round only two call for special comment. The remaining six resulted according to general anticipations. The most notable contests were the one that brought Messrs. J. Graham Symes and G. A. Heginbottom together and that in which Major Fleming was opposed by Mr. T.

Truffas. The first of these provided the most strenuous and the keenest duel in the competition, with the result in doubt to almost the last stroke. Much the younger and more robust of the two players, Graham Symes owed his victory by 86 points to his staying powers.

There were periods when the Lancashire amateur (surely the finest player figuring in the event for over twenty years who has missed championship honours) looked like mastering the champion of 1917 and 1918, but he could not quite stay the course, one or two of the sessions extending over three hours. In such a keenly-contested game the breaks and averages naturally suffered, the best efforts being 70 by the winner and 68 by the loser, whilst the averages of 9¼ and 8¾ do not represent the best form of either.

Lancashire, however, was avenged when the Italian-born Bolton amateur created a surprise by handsomely beating Major Fleming, the champion of 1909. Truffas moves freely all the way, the deliberate movements of the great tactical Major failing to knock the Italian player off his game as a good many anticipated. Still Truffas took risks which happened to come off, and nothing better had been seen in the competition to this stage than the break of 108 which carried him to game a winner by 389. Given good health and ordinary luck Truffas will be champion one of these days, but not until experience teaches him that risks cannot always be run with impunity on the billiard table. A very fine natural player this, but a little too impetuous, and had Major Fleming been feeling well up to concert pitch, I do not think that the Bolton player would have seen the third round, well as he played.

The Major was not well at all, and one regrets to hear that he is shortly to undergo an operation.

The value of careful and methodical tactics in important games was borne in on Truffas in the third round. He was as impetuous as ever when opposed to Graham Symes, nearly always ignoring the fact that there is a defensive phase of the game. Truffas went out for everything and anything so to speak and therefore fell an easy victim to a more seasoned campaigner, who happened to be nearer his best form than in the two previous rounds. Graham Symes played very well indeed, and extended his century breaks list with two fine efforts of 119 and 103.

The third round produced, perhaps, the greatest surprise in the whole competition when Harry Bond defeated the old champion Albert Good and qualified for the semi-finals. Bond himself was the first to admit that he had few pretensions to figure in the penultimate stage, though in many respects his triumph was deserved, if only for the pluck and tenacity that he displayed in hanging on when seemingly he had no chance. Grit is a splendid asset to a billiard player, and this Bond has to an unusual degree, as witness his victory under circumstances that would have depressed a big majority of players. After averaging 26 at the first instalment (the record average of the whole competition) and leading by 350, Good fell to pieces during the second stage. The old champion, however, came on again during the third instalment and once more established a winning lead, only, however, to falter once more and get beaten by 39 points, the closest result in the series. The averages were very moderate, the winner recording 8 and the loser 7¾.

THE SEMI-FINALS

The apex of the whole competition was reached on February 7, when the venue was transferred to the new Burroughes Hall, Piccadilly, and Sidney H. Fry (the holder) and J. R.

Hooper (Australia) met in the first of the semifinals. Since the draw was made away back in November this meeting was inevitable, eagerly discussed, and generally regarded as the game that would determine whether the title was to go overseas for the first time in history or remain in the old country. By virtue of his remarkable play against J. Seaman in the previous round the chances of the Australian were the most favoured, and when he galloped away from our man during the first instalment it seemed as if the confidence reposed in our distinguished Australian visitor was about to be justified. He had totalled 666 to 332 and returned the wonderful average (for an amateur) of 25.61. I was in a minority when tipping Fry to beat Hooper; not because one thought the Englishman was the better exponent, but solely on the point of experience of the conditions and the greater physical fitness of the holder. I thought stamina would play an important part in the struggle, and it was stamina more than anything else that carried the holder through to a great victory.

A prolonged second session extending over 3½ hours saw the none too robust Australian lose his grip on the game, and by scoring 1,002 to 579 Fry set up a lead of 87. Hooper made a great and plucky effort at the third and last instalment, and at one stage drew to within nine points of his rival; but again revealing the better staying powers and playing really good billiards Fry went away to win fairly comfortably by 280 points. The game produced three century efforts, 106 by Fry and 144 and 130 by Hooper, whilst the averages were 15.26 and 13.23 respectively.

As was generally anticipated, J. Graham Symes outclassed H. W. Bond in the other semifinal. The latter, whose performance in getting so far in the competition was a singularly good one for a new-comer, did fairly well at the first instalment when he scored 496— 666, but afterwards the result was never in doubt, Graham Symes winning by 781. The winner made three century breaks—136, 120, and 101—but otherwise the game presented no striking features. The averages were 13.42 and 8.23.

THE FINAL

Sidney H. Fry created a new record by winning the Championship for the seventh time when defeating J. Graham Symes by 409 points in the final heat of 3,000 points, on February 14, amidst scenes of great enthusiasm. He had previously won the title in 1893, 1896, 1900, 1916, 1918, and 1919, a record of wins also achieved by A. P. Gaskell (1888, 1889 (twice), 1890 (twice), and 1891), and by H. C. Virr (1907, 1908, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914), but unless Virr (who still retains a good deal of his old form) emerges from his retirement and has another go for the title, the record created by Fry on Saturday last is likely to stand for a good many years to come.

A summary of the final heat is tabulated on Page 21 and leaves little to add in the way of detailed criticism. Graham Symes made a much better fight for it than many anticipated, and might conceivably have given the holder more trouble but for an unfortunate and careless blunder during the first instalment. After creating a new championship record by recording a three figure break (113) at the very first scoring opportunity which presented itself in the game, Graham Symes was always leading his rival until the scores were 358— 306 in his favour. Then in giving a miss under the side cushion from hand he played from outside the "D" and was at once pulled up by the referee. Fry had the balls spotted, and playing beautiful billiards the champion ran straight to his points with a glorious effort of 194, which was converted into 208 in the evening. From that point Graham Symes lost ground at each session until the close of the fourth. Hut that he intended going down with his colours flying the challenger demonstrated at each of the last two instalments, when he gave Fry more than a few anxious moments, and actually out-pointed him. Indeed, at one stage of the final session Graham Symes got to within 281 of his man (2,588—2,869) and was playing much more confidently than the holder.

A "kicking" cue ball, however, let Symes down badly, and paved the way for a delightful 117 from Fry, which settled the issue.

Hundred Breaks and Above in All Rounds

TOTAL: 34 (Last Year 42)

---