Marshall’s Long Reign broken
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By a Staff Reporter
England’s A. Leslie Driffield became the new World’s amateur billiards champion on Wednesday night when he defeated the Australian holder, Bob Marshall, after four hours of confident play, the score being 1,628 to 983.
It was the key match of the series. Driffield having won his previous games, claimed the title in his final match, to be the only player with an unbeaten record.
Driffield however, is not the only player to go through the championship undefeated.
Marshall did so every time since 1936, and in winning the title from him, the Englishman has consequently broken a long period of supremacy held by Australia. The last Englishman to win it was H. F. E. Coles in 1935.
There is no denying the fact that Driffield deserved the title this year if only for his consistency and self assurance.
As a matter of fact one can say that he hadn’t much opposition extend against India’s No.2 C. Hirjee .Whom some thought he was rather fortunate to beat. Hirjee with one match left to play has a chance of being runner – up.
And now for the game it was not a good day for Marshall and without disparagement to Driffield. It must be said that the loser had a bad deal with the run of the balls. This coupled with the fact that he was late in finding his touch, prevented him from scoring with customary facility.
Throughout the first session and to some extent in the second, Marshall’s main source of failure was the drop cannon which though he obtained, invariably put him in a tight spot at the top of the table. Any plane he had for break-building were ruined again and again when he saw the three balls lined up near the spot – end. many were the occasions on which he failed with the follow through.
Driffield, on the other hand played with no inhibitions, handling every shot with the utmost accuracy and treating every situation on its merits. There was nothing Marshall could do to compel the hurried stroke.
Despite batting against heavy odds in the first session. Marshall thrilled the packed house with a number of delicately executed shots but he still reward in the way of positioning. To the ordinary onlooker it seemed even before the break that the result was already on the cards.
Magnificent break
In the last hour, however, when Marshall probably realized that defeat was inevitable he played with a touch of carefree abandon to roll out a magnificent break of 273 which brought the house down When he was near the 200 marks he retrieved position with a most difficult screw back hazard off the white into one of the top pockets but failed at 273 a difficult follow through when the 300 mark seemed to be in sight.
As it has happened so often before in the championship. Victory to the player who short to the front first and in this case it was Driffield again. After a cautious start, Marshall having broken. Driffield got ahead with a break of 53 and in his eighth, ninth and tenth visits. Strung together breaks of 125, 72 and 96 to lead by 366 points to 63 . Both players then went through a short period of inactivity and at that stage Marshall had made 11 visits , five of which were blank , the highest break being 28 . At the end of an hour’s play Driffield led 480-95 .
Marshall’s century break in his 16th visit was like a breath of fresh air .He seemed fairly set for a big score but left it for Driffield at the top of the table at 115 . The latter , however , failed with a forcing in-off .
Driffield improving his position with breaks of 30 and 40 , was in a happy position shortly before the break and not even a fighting 145 by Marshall could make a sizable inroad into his lead . At the end of the first session Driffield led 757-454 with Marshall three in play .
MARSHALL LEFT SAFE
In the closing minutes of the first session and in the first hour of the second Marshall was frequently double-baulked and left safe . When he did risk a difficult shot he missed it narrowly and invariably left it on for Driffield . Nothing seemed to be safe for the latter .
Marshall’s 61 in his second visit after resumption looked hopeful but Driffield set the sea on victory in his eighth , tenth and fifteenth visits when he came through with sustained three-figured breaks which gave him a lead of over 600 points .
At this stage Marshall rallied with his big break of 273 but Driffield soon replied with 152 and following up with smaller items re-established his 600 lead . When the end came he was comfortably in front .
And so while two matches remain to be played the excitement is over and a new champion has been proclaimed . Nevertheless it has been a refreshing experience to have been able to see the world’s best in action and probably a good thing for the game that the little has changed hands .
TODAY’S MATCH
W. Ramage (Scotland) v. C. Hirjee (India) –5-30 p.m. and 8-30 p.m.
By a Staff Reporter
England’s A. Leslie Driffield became the new World’s amateur billiards champion on Wednesday night when he defeated the Australian holder, Bob Marshall, after four hours of confident play, the score being 1,628 to 983.
It was the key match of the series. Driffield having won his previous games, claimed the title in his final match, to be the only player with an unbeaten record.
Driffield however, is not the only player to go through the championship undefeated.
Marshall did so every time since 1936, and in winning the title from him, the Englishman has consequently broken a long period of supremacy held by Australia. The last Englishman to win it was H. F. E. Coles in 1935.
There is no denying the fact that Driffield deserved the title this year if only for his consistency and self assurance.
As a matter of fact one can say that he hadn’t much opposition extend against India’s No.2 C. Hirjee .Whom some thought he was rather fortunate to beat. Hirjee with one match left to play has a chance of being runner – up.
And now for the game it was not a good day for Marshall and without disparagement to Driffield. It must be said that the loser had a bad deal with the run of the balls. This coupled with the fact that he was late in finding his touch, prevented him from scoring with customary facility.
Throughout the first session and to some extent in the second, Marshall’s main source of failure was the drop cannon which though he obtained, invariably put him in a tight spot at the top of the table. Any plane he had for break-building were ruined again and again when he saw the three balls lined up near the spot – end. many were the occasions on which he failed with the follow through.
Driffield, on the other hand played with no inhibitions, handling every shot with the utmost accuracy and treating every situation on its merits. There was nothing Marshall could do to compel the hurried stroke.
Despite batting against heavy odds in the first session. Marshall thrilled the packed house with a number of delicately executed shots but he still reward in the way of positioning. To the ordinary onlooker it seemed even before the break that the result was already on the cards.
Magnificent break
In the last hour, however, when Marshall probably realized that defeat was inevitable he played with a touch of carefree abandon to roll out a magnificent break of 273 which brought the house down When he was near the 200 marks he retrieved position with a most difficult screw back hazard off the white into one of the top pockets but failed at 273 a difficult follow through when the 300 mark seemed to be in sight.
As it has happened so often before in the championship. Victory to the player who short to the front first and in this case it was Driffield again. After a cautious start, Marshall having broken. Driffield got ahead with a break of 53 and in his eighth, ninth and tenth visits. Strung together breaks of 125, 72 and 96 to lead by 366 points to 63 . Both players then went through a short period of inactivity and at that stage Marshall had made 11 visits , five of which were blank , the highest break being 28 . At the end of an hour’s play Driffield led 480-95 .
Marshall’s century break in his 16th visit was like a breath of fresh air .He seemed fairly set for a big score but left it for Driffield at the top of the table at 115 . The latter , however , failed with a forcing in-off .
Driffield improving his position with breaks of 30 and 40 , was in a happy position shortly before the break and not even a fighting 145 by Marshall could make a sizable inroad into his lead . At the end of the first session Driffield led 757-454 with Marshall three in play .
MARSHALL LEFT SAFE
In the closing minutes of the first session and in the first hour of the second Marshall was frequently double-baulked and left safe . When he did risk a difficult shot he missed it narrowly and invariably left it on for Driffield . Nothing seemed to be safe for the latter .
Marshall’s 61 in his second visit after resumption looked hopeful but Driffield set the sea on victory in his eighth , tenth and fifteenth visits when he came through with sustained three-figured breaks which gave him a lead of over 600 points .
At this stage Marshall rallied with his big break of 273 but Driffield soon replied with 152 and following up with smaller items re-established his 600 lead . When the end came he was comfortably in front .
And so while two matches remain to be played the excitement is over and a new champion has been proclaimed . Nevertheless it has been a refreshing experience to have been able to see the world’s best in action and probably a good thing for the game that the little has changed hands .
TODAY’S MATCH
W. Ramage (Scotland) v. C. Hirjee (India) –5-30 p.m. and 8-30 p.m.