Jones to meet Yunoos In first Match
By a staff reporter
One of the biggest sporting events of the year commences at the Great Eastern Hotel today when the representatives of India and Burma “break off†in the first match of the world Amateur Billiards Championship.
The number of competitions is six against seven of last year when the event was held in London, and t y Wednesday evening, with the arrival of A. Yunoos the tally was comple. E.. All are in good form and many records are expected to go by the board.
The competitors are : R .Marshall (Australia) – holder , L. Driffield (England), W. Ramage (Scotland) , W. Jones (India), C. Hirjee (India) and A. Yunoos (Burma).
The table set up for the purpose is in excellent condition and all contestants having found their touch on it have declared it to be very satisfactory. It is fitted with the best English cloth and cushions. The latter are of the block type. Which differ slightly from the strip rubber cushion normally used in Australia.
The Championship will be played under ideal weather conditions with the mercury at a mild 45 degrees. Playing conditions are claimed to be better here than in England and other Temperate Zone countries since players find much relief in a hall with a high celling and where smoking is prohibited.
Matches will be played daily from today, the last one taking place on Dec 5. A match will be divided into two sessions, each of two hours duration. The first commencing at 5-30 p.m. and second at 5-30 p.m.
Similar to last year the championship will be decided on the American league system each player being required to play the others once. At the end of competition final placings will be indicated by a championship table.
Among the players who competed last year, Bob Marshall who went through his six matches undefeated. Break Competition award for that year. In the English Amateur Championships of 1950-51, he made a break of 444, the second highest in the history of the championships. In his second post – war attempt won the English championship from Frank Edwards, making a break of 322. Plays a mixed type of game and does not concentrate too much on top table play, preferring to leave this area rather than risk difficult shots. Extremely accurate and is a very fine stroke player.
Walter Ramage (Scotland) – Holds the Scottish open Billiards title and Scottish Amateur billiards title as well as East of Scotland title. Has been a leading player in Edinburgh for almost 20 years. And the champion for at east 10 years. He also holds all the Scottish records which are 1,000 points in a two – hour session, four century breaks in a two-hour session, an average of 45.3 for a two-hour session and a record break of 205. Although not such a keen snooker player, he has won the Scottish title in 1949 and 1950 when asked about his chances for this year’s World Championship he said he had a hard task but hoped for the best. Gave a good account of himself in London last year.
Wilson Jones (India) – Born in Poona in May 1922. Started playing billiards at 16 but showed more proficiency in snooker. Took to billiards seriously in 1946 and went to Bombay to watch Kennerly in action. Took part in the National Championships that year but did not go beyond the second round., his best break being 44 . He preserved through consistent practice and by watching foreign stars invited to India by the BA & CCI. Finally won the National title in 1950, 1951 and 1952 to become the first player to win it three years in succession. In 1951 he completed the “double†by winning the snooker title as well has beaten Marshall in an exhibition match and frank Edwards and Tom Cleary in open competition. He holds the Indian break record of 342 his personal best being 371 was selected last year to represent India in the World Championship but could not produce his best form.
Chandra Hirjee (India) – Born in Bombay in November 1924 .Took to billiards early and showed great promise. He is remembered for his meteoric rise to fame , winning the Indian
Title at his first attempt in 19465 , and repeating the success the following year . Business , however , intervened . It is only recently that he shown glimpses of former brilliance . Always a potential century-break maker . Hirjee plays a fast and delightful game and is considered the finest stroke player in the country . He plays top-table and has good Billiards sense . He was runner-up to Jones’ for the 1952 title and followed this success by winning the West Bengal State Championship .
Ameen Yunoos (Burma) –This 27-year-old player was born in Rangoon , and belongs to a well-known business family in Burma . Took to billiards at 16 but did not start playing it seriously until the post-war years . Won the 1952 Amateur title in Burma on his first entry . Has compiled several century breaks , his highest being 145 . Professes to be a red ball player but is persevering with top table methods .
TODAY’S MATCH
Wilson Jones (India) v. A. Yunoos (Burma)—5-30p.m. and 8-30p.m.
By a staff reporter
One of the biggest sporting events of the year commences at the Great Eastern Hotel today when the representatives of India and Burma “break off†in the first match of the world Amateur Billiards Championship.
The number of competitions is six against seven of last year when the event was held in London, and t y Wednesday evening, with the arrival of A. Yunoos the tally was comple. E.. All are in good form and many records are expected to go by the board.
The competitors are : R .Marshall (Australia) – holder , L. Driffield (England), W. Ramage (Scotland) , W. Jones (India), C. Hirjee (India) and A. Yunoos (Burma).
The table set up for the purpose is in excellent condition and all contestants having found their touch on it have declared it to be very satisfactory. It is fitted with the best English cloth and cushions. The latter are of the block type. Which differ slightly from the strip rubber cushion normally used in Australia.
The Championship will be played under ideal weather conditions with the mercury at a mild 45 degrees. Playing conditions are claimed to be better here than in England and other Temperate Zone countries since players find much relief in a hall with a high celling and where smoking is prohibited.
Matches will be played daily from today, the last one taking place on Dec 5. A match will be divided into two sessions, each of two hours duration. The first commencing at 5-30 p.m. and second at 5-30 p.m.
Similar to last year the championship will be decided on the American league system each player being required to play the others once. At the end of competition final placings will be indicated by a championship table.
Among the players who competed last year, Bob Marshall who went through his six matches undefeated. Break Competition award for that year. In the English Amateur Championships of 1950-51, he made a break of 444, the second highest in the history of the championships. In his second post – war attempt won the English championship from Frank Edwards, making a break of 322. Plays a mixed type of game and does not concentrate too much on top table play, preferring to leave this area rather than risk difficult shots. Extremely accurate and is a very fine stroke player.
Walter Ramage (Scotland) – Holds the Scottish open Billiards title and Scottish Amateur billiards title as well as East of Scotland title. Has been a leading player in Edinburgh for almost 20 years. And the champion for at east 10 years. He also holds all the Scottish records which are 1,000 points in a two – hour session, four century breaks in a two-hour session, an average of 45.3 for a two-hour session and a record break of 205. Although not such a keen snooker player, he has won the Scottish title in 1949 and 1950 when asked about his chances for this year’s World Championship he said he had a hard task but hoped for the best. Gave a good account of himself in London last year.
Wilson Jones (India) – Born in Poona in May 1922. Started playing billiards at 16 but showed more proficiency in snooker. Took to billiards seriously in 1946 and went to Bombay to watch Kennerly in action. Took part in the National Championships that year but did not go beyond the second round., his best break being 44 . He preserved through consistent practice and by watching foreign stars invited to India by the BA & CCI. Finally won the National title in 1950, 1951 and 1952 to become the first player to win it three years in succession. In 1951 he completed the “double†by winning the snooker title as well has beaten Marshall in an exhibition match and frank Edwards and Tom Cleary in open competition. He holds the Indian break record of 342 his personal best being 371 was selected last year to represent India in the World Championship but could not produce his best form.
Chandra Hirjee (India) – Born in Bombay in November 1924 .Took to billiards early and showed great promise. He is remembered for his meteoric rise to fame , winning the Indian
Title at his first attempt in 19465 , and repeating the success the following year . Business , however , intervened . It is only recently that he shown glimpses of former brilliance . Always a potential century-break maker . Hirjee plays a fast and delightful game and is considered the finest stroke player in the country . He plays top-table and has good Billiards sense . He was runner-up to Jones’ for the 1952 title and followed this success by winning the West Bengal State Championship .
Ameen Yunoos (Burma) –This 27-year-old player was born in Rangoon , and belongs to a well-known business family in Burma . Took to billiards at 16 but did not start playing it seriously until the post-war years . Won the 1952 Amateur title in Burma on his first entry . Has compiled several century breaks , his highest being 145 . Professes to be a red ball player but is persevering with top table methods .
TODAY’S MATCH
Wilson Jones (India) v. A. Yunoos (Burma)—5-30p.m. and 8-30p.m.