The writer of this article could have never known how significant his words would be 151 years later.
Here we have a rare glimpse back in time, before professional sports in the U.S., along with a who's-who list of the most influential billiard players to ever walk the planet.
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PROGRESS OF THE GAMES.
The long-talked-of Billiard Tournament commenced yesterday afternoon at Lynch's Billiard Rooms, Fourteenth-street, Union-square. The prize -- a splendid gold-mounted jointed cue -- is exhibited in the spacious saloon where the contest is going on. A double platform for the spectators has been built round the table, which is in the centre of the arena. There were probably between three and four hundred persons present during the afternoon.
The idea of having a Billiard Tournament in the United States, originated with Mr. Phelan, about two years since, who was then in correspondence with Monsieur Berger and Mr. Roberts, the champion billiard player of England, with a view of inducing those great players to visit this country and engage in the great contest. Mr. Phelan's project was not then successful; and it has now been resuscitated, in consequence of the extraordinary number of professional and amateur billiard players who are now in New-York, and who have been drawn here to witness M. Berger's astonishing performances. This fact, and the additional one that public attention has been so largely enlisted in studying the more scientific points of this game, has induced Messrs. Phelan and Collender to give the Tournament.
Mr. Bird, of Philadelphia, having been taken sick, Mr. Geary, of Chicago, has been substituted, at one day's notice; nevertheless, he made the most difficult and brilliant shot of the day. He accomplished M. Berger's serpentine shot, or what is known to American billiard players as the "kissing shot." The programme of the Tournament is as follows: Five hundred-point games. Friday (yesterday) -- Geary of Chicago and White of New-York; Kavanagh and Lynch of New-York. Saturday -- Kavanagh and Geary; Tieman of Cincinnati and White, Monday -- White and Kavanagh: Tieman and Lynch. Tuesday -- Lynch and White; Tieman and Geary. Wednesday -- Lynch and Geary; Tieman and Kavanagh. Thursday -- Mr. Phelan against the winner, 500 points.
Since the advent of M. Berger. American players have practiced with great success his style of drawing the balls together, and Messrs. Kavanagh and Lynch were very successful in using the principle while making their brilliant runs. Popular as this style of play his become since [???]. Berger's arrival, the bringing of the balls together had long been practiced by Mr. Phelan, and was one of the elements of his great success as a billiard player.
The games commence every afternoon at 2 o'clock. The first one, yesterday, was won by White, who exhibited some nervousness. His principal runs were: 94, 48, 24, 34 28, 27, 23. His average in the 500 points being 12 1/2 in 40 innings.
Geary made 331 points, in which were runs of 22, 30, 21, 23, 31, 30, 30.
The game between Lynch and Kavanagh was the most brilliant public game ever played in New-York These players played a home and home match of 1,000 points some years ago, in which Kavanagh won two out of three; but that was a four-ball carom game on a pocket-table, and was not to be compared for brilliancy with the present game, in which the balls were brought together a la Berger or Phelan, and were then nursed by the finest of touches. The splendid run of Lynch for 129 was made mostly by caroms on the white and red balls. Mr. Lynch was not very well, and, consequently labored under some disadvantage.
Kavanagh's play throughout was brilliant; his runs and figures were as follows:
Kavanagh led -- 80, 33, 42, 55, 18, 38, 113, 4, 5, 4, 5, 10, 3, 4, 31, 57. Total, 500.
Lynch's play was -- 0, 129, 56, 35, 15, 10, 12, 3, 45, 0, (the only one in the game,) 35, 9, 15, 17, 10, 8. Total, 399.
Repeated applause was given to both players, and the most close attention given as some shots were made.
Oct 27, 1860 NYTimes
Here we have a rare glimpse back in time, before professional sports in the U.S., along with a who's-who list of the most influential billiard players to ever walk the planet.
-------------------------
PROGRESS OF THE GAMES.
The long-talked-of Billiard Tournament commenced yesterday afternoon at Lynch's Billiard Rooms, Fourteenth-street, Union-square. The prize -- a splendid gold-mounted jointed cue -- is exhibited in the spacious saloon where the contest is going on. A double platform for the spectators has been built round the table, which is in the centre of the arena. There were probably between three and four hundred persons present during the afternoon.
The idea of having a Billiard Tournament in the United States, originated with Mr. Phelan, about two years since, who was then in correspondence with Monsieur Berger and Mr. Roberts, the champion billiard player of England, with a view of inducing those great players to visit this country and engage in the great contest. Mr. Phelan's project was not then successful; and it has now been resuscitated, in consequence of the extraordinary number of professional and amateur billiard players who are now in New-York, and who have been drawn here to witness M. Berger's astonishing performances. This fact, and the additional one that public attention has been so largely enlisted in studying the more scientific points of this game, has induced Messrs. Phelan and Collender to give the Tournament.
Mr. Bird, of Philadelphia, having been taken sick, Mr. Geary, of Chicago, has been substituted, at one day's notice; nevertheless, he made the most difficult and brilliant shot of the day. He accomplished M. Berger's serpentine shot, or what is known to American billiard players as the "kissing shot." The programme of the Tournament is as follows: Five hundred-point games. Friday (yesterday) -- Geary of Chicago and White of New-York; Kavanagh and Lynch of New-York. Saturday -- Kavanagh and Geary; Tieman of Cincinnati and White, Monday -- White and Kavanagh: Tieman and Lynch. Tuesday -- Lynch and White; Tieman and Geary. Wednesday -- Lynch and Geary; Tieman and Kavanagh. Thursday -- Mr. Phelan against the winner, 500 points.
Since the advent of M. Berger. American players have practiced with great success his style of drawing the balls together, and Messrs. Kavanagh and Lynch were very successful in using the principle while making their brilliant runs. Popular as this style of play his become since [???]. Berger's arrival, the bringing of the balls together had long been practiced by Mr. Phelan, and was one of the elements of his great success as a billiard player.
The games commence every afternoon at 2 o'clock. The first one, yesterday, was won by White, who exhibited some nervousness. His principal runs were: 94, 48, 24, 34 28, 27, 23. His average in the 500 points being 12 1/2 in 40 innings.
Geary made 331 points, in which were runs of 22, 30, 21, 23, 31, 30, 30.
The game between Lynch and Kavanagh was the most brilliant public game ever played in New-York These players played a home and home match of 1,000 points some years ago, in which Kavanagh won two out of three; but that was a four-ball carom game on a pocket-table, and was not to be compared for brilliancy with the present game, in which the balls were brought together a la Berger or Phelan, and were then nursed by the finest of touches. The splendid run of Lynch for 129 was made mostly by caroms on the white and red balls. Mr. Lynch was not very well, and, consequently labored under some disadvantage.
Kavanagh's play throughout was brilliant; his runs and figures were as follows:
Kavanagh led -- 80, 33, 42, 55, 18, 38, 113, 4, 5, 4, 5, 10, 3, 4, 31, 57. Total, 500.
Lynch's play was -- 0, 129, 56, 35, 15, 10, 12, 3, 45, 0, (the only one in the game,) 35, 9, 15, 17, 10, 8. Total, 399.
Repeated applause was given to both players, and the most close attention given as some shots were made.
Oct 27, 1860 NYTimes