25/01 The Statesman, Kolkata, India, Driffield ‘S Narrow Win Over Hirjee.

World Amateur Billiards

Calcutta, November 25.

Driffields Narrow Win Over Hirjee
The English champion, Leslie Driffield, beat India’s number two, Chandra Hirjee by 1,387 to 1, 177 points to the World Amateur Billiards Championship match tonight.

In a thrilling match Driffield led Hirjee by 696 points to 614 at the close of the first session and clinched the issue in the last 18 minutes of the second session when he held a slender lead. He had breaks of 123 and 54 (unfinished) to make the match his own.
Driffield ‘s big breaks of the match were 138, 123 and 81, and Hirjee ‘s 168, 138, 109 and 95.-
The honours of the first session went to Hirjee who staged a remarkable recovery in the latter half.
Hirjee commenced confidently and soon shot into a small lead of 87 points to 59. But the more consistent Driffield, with his calm play, over took Hirjee, and, with several breaks of over 50, commanded a big lead.
The first big break of the was recorded after 27 minutes play- the break being 118 chalked up by Hirjee after Driffield had knocked up 54. Driffield consistent and Hirjee who fell to pieces. After a break of 59 Hirjee ‘s best break in 11 visits was 24 and during this period he had four blank visits. At this stage Driffield led by 625 to 320 points.
Suddenly and dramatically Hirjee found his touch, and , producing every stroke known in the game, scored breaks of 168 and 109 to reduced Driffield’s handsome lead.
Both players displayed superb mastery in the losing hazard play and never at any stage did they score many points off top- of- the table play.
Driffield’s big breaks in this session were 54, 138, 81, 63, 53 and 78. Hirjee’s big breaks were 118, 59, 168 and 109.