BILLIARDS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2607, 15 September 1909, Page 6

BILLIARDS

GRAY’S GREAT FEAT

TWO WORLD’S RECORDS BROKEN

G. Gray to-day, broke two world's records in his match with F. Lindrum (says a Melbourne telegram to the “Sydney Morning Herald” of August 25th). He made a break of 836 (831 of which were scored off the red). With the score at 3644 and 2841, Gray settled down to work, and early putting the white out of play, continued a long' sequence off the red. The break was more interesting than usual, for the very reason that it took him some little time to find the middle strength accurately; 102, 103, 104, and 100 were passed in the break. Then at twenty minutes past four the room broke into a thunder of applause. He had Tun to' his sessional points in one hours and twenty minutes with a 482 unftxiished, all of which but the first five'points had been made with only the red ball on the table. This left Gray with a perfect position, and only 52 points still to get to beat his own world's record of 528 off the red.. It was evident, as soon as Gray, had plajed hi£ first few shots in the evening that new figures off the red were to be established. The 52 neoessary for that pttrpose were soon got, and' the room became hopeful that the 600 might be passed. Hope became expectation, and expectation realisation, and so again with the seventh hundred. As Gray’s run went on well into the 800,' the possibility of Stevenson’s figures, 802, the world’s best record at the spot-barred game, being passed, lent added interest to the break in progress. There was, however, very little of that tense, nervy sensation that, as a rule, spreads like contagion through an audience. The boy was playing to well to ; break down, which never seemed likely. His strength was perfect. . . The score was called, 4447-2841, when

Xindrum jumped from his chair and shook Grey by the hand, while the room, including the ladies —for Wednesday is “ladies’ night”—cheered and cheered again. The break was 803, and a second world’s record had been established, and that by an Australian boy of 17. When play was resumed again. Gray carried the break to 836, 831 of, which had been made off the red. He failed on a forcing loser into the top left-hand pocket. Altogether it was a magnificent achievement of skill, ot nerve, and endurance. Gray made the break in about 78 minutes. The closing scores were: Gray (rec. 1000), in play. 4750; Lindrum, 3337. GRAY’S WORLD’S RECORD. Notwithstanding that George Gray is only 17 years of age, he has been hailed as a world’s championship winner in the near future, so marvellously well has he learnt the losing hazard stroke. It is only three years ago that Melbourne Inman created a mild sensation by scoring 300 points off the red ball which was then easily the world’s ■ -a. r rd a similar feeling was ex--,v'.-pyced locally when Lindrum, in his match with Memmott, established new

'Australian figures for successive losers off the led.

It was, however, just about this timo that young George Gray began to produce in public the remai'kable excellence he had achieved in developing the losing hazard. During liis New Zealand tour last year ho exceeded the world’s record in successive red losers, his best break being 372 (124 off the red), at Dunedin, but ...the performance was not put up on a standard table. Ho, however, had an opportunity later, when playing in Sydney; and so well did he. take advantage of it that he broke Australian records. Now he has capped all by breaking the world’s record with 836, 831 of which came from the red ball. The previous world’s record (802) was held by Stevenson, who is recognised as the best billiard player in the world to-day. Gray, despite his youth, would give Stevenson a good match for the world’s championship. One has only to note his big, breaks against Lindrum in Sydney a fortnight ago. Comparison with Stevenson’s best in a game of 16,000 would be favorable to Gray. The latter has mastered the two strokes, the losing hazard into the middle and top pockets, and with such precision does ue play them that it is only a matter of little time before he will have a 1000 break to his credit. Gray has learned this stroke just as Peal! did the spot stroke, though there is more play in Gray’s hazard than in potting the red, which becomes easier to the player at every stroke, because of the track worn by the ball from the spot to the pocket. Young Gray learned this stroke from his father, who is also a player of note in Australian billiards. John Roberts, jun., refused to play the ‘ ‘spot-in” game because of its wearying effect upon the spectators, which refusal, by the way, caused the spot-barred game to be introduced. Now Gray has perfected a stroke which, while being extraordinary in its effect, is not "nearly as interesting to the public as the all-round game, which is a mixture of losing hazards, nursery cannons, and top of table play. If Gray visits England, as is said to be his intention, he will draw crowds, otili, the big players, perhaps, will not care about meeting him, because of the wearying effect of his losing hazard game. This break of Gray’s will be passed as a world’s record, as it was played on a duly certified standaid table.