JUST at the present time Inman is at the very top of his form, and showed Weiss little mercy in a comparatively short game of 6,000 up which they played at the Grand Hall last week. Neither man made any sensational break, but Inman scored consistently and well, and finally won by the big margin of 1,229 points. Just now he would take a great deal of beating from any one, and there will be no surprise if he should be contesting the championship soon after his return from his tour around the world. The standard table erected by Messrs. Thurston and Co. for this game gave great satisfaction. Details :—
Inman had much the better of the argument at both sessions on the opening day of the game and established a useful lead of no fewer than 689 points. He contributed excellent breaks of 116, 143, 107, 86, 75, 112, and 74, while Weiss experienced very poor luck in the running of the balls, and quite failed to do himself justice, his highest efforts only realising 90 and 65.
Weiss showed improved form to-day and made steady progress with contributions of 83, 73, 114 (90 off the red ball), 71, and 128 (unfinished). Inman, meanwhile, fully held his own, and in point of fact gained five points on the day's play. He was responsible for compilations of 165, 112, and a capital 336, the latter being aided in its initial stage by a fluke.
There was no play in the evening to-day owing to the fact that both players had to fulfil a prior engagement. During the afternoon session, Inman materially improved his position and at the close of play was leading by 847 points. His chief breaks amounted to 96, 155, 76, and 86 (unfinished), while Weiss, after increasing his unfinished 128 to the full total of 180 did nothing better than a run of 84.
Weiss again failed to make any headway to-day and with the exception of a fine 162 made .no break worth .mentioning. Very bad luck attended him at both sessions, and at the close of play he was no fewer than 1,375 points behind. Inman continued to make excellent progress, and after raising his incomplete 86 to the full total of 98 (96 off the red ball), put together capital efforts of 136, 123, 85, and 161 (unfinished).
Weiss was seen to much greater advantage to-day, when he succeeded in regaining .some lo-st ground, Inman only leading by 1,106 points at the close of play. The latter player after raising his unfinished break to the full total of 168 did nothing better than runs of 110, 88, 94, 77, 76, and 74, while Weiss made excellent progress with compilations of 94, 150, 114, 72, 85, 105, and 194.
Neither player was at his best this afternoon, but Inman had slightly the better of matters, scoring 587 points to Weiss's 548. The latter player contributed breaks of 78, 198, and 96 to Inman's highest of 132 and 78. Inman continued to gain ground at the final session, and with compilations of 214, 135, and 85 to his opponent's best efforts of 116, 91, and 70, ran to game an easy winner by 1,229 points.