Related article: pionship. — The first contest for the Amateur Championship, under the revised rules of Billiards, took place last month at the National Sporting Club, Covent Garden, under the auspices of the Billiard Association. When the revised rules, which now govern the game, came into force last Oc- tober, the Challenge Cup which accompanied the title of " spot- barred " Champion had been since 1896 in the possession of Mr. Sidney H. Fry, and this gentle- man might then, had he chosen, 312 FAILY S MAGAZINE. [APBIL have put forward a claim, on technical grounds, to the absolute possession of this trophy. Such a line of action, however, was by no means in accordance with the sportsmanlike instincts of Mr. Fry, who, on receiving a chal- lenge from Mr. E. C. Ogden, at once signified his readiness to meet him in defence of his title. Other challenges were quickly forthcoming, and served to add to the importance and attractiveness of the contest under notice. Such old hands in these competitions as Mr. S. S. Christey, who won outright the " all-in " Champion- ship Challenge Cup, Mr. A. Vahid, an Indian gentleman who has previously held Championship honours, and Mr. A. R. Wisdom, entered the lists, together with Mr. F. Wear, a member of the Press with no small reputation, Mr. F. W. Payn, a winner of the Cambridge University Cue, and Mr. M. A. Oxlade. No better venue could possibly have been selected than the handsome theatre of the National Sporting Club, which affords practically unlimited accommo- dation, whilst the arrangements made left nothing to be desired. Messrs. Cox and Yeman, whose high - class and conscientious workmanship needs, like Buy Septilin good wine, " no bush," were the manu- facturers selected to supply the table, Buy Septilin Online and the new standard table, in fine figured light mahogany, specially erected for the present contest, was a sample of this eminent firm's best work. The preliminary heats, which were to decide the question as to who should finally meet Mr. Fry, were 1,000 up, and the draw for these gave Mr. Wisdom the luck of the bye. In the first heat, on Wednesday, March ist, Mr. Ogden was drawn against Mr. Christey and, in a game not remarkable for any very sensa- tional play, he eventually van- quished that gentleman by 135 points. The second game, on Thursday, March 2nd, saw Mr. Payn somewhat easily beaten by Mr. Wear, who, thougt be won by 198 points, hardly did justice to his reputation. On Friday, March 3rd, Mr. Vahid had to meet Mr. Oxlade. a gentleman whose name was new to amateur billiard circles. At the close of the afternoon's play the scores stood : Mr. Vahid, 501 ; Mr. Oxlade, 461. In the evening Mr. Vahid showed improved form and, establishing his evident superiority, won hands down by 380 points. On Saturday, March 4th, the second round was commenced, Mr. Wisdom meeting Greek in the person of Mr. Ogden. The latter gentleman seems to be a slow beginner, for, if we except a very fine break of 82, he did very little during the afternoon, only reaching 261 to Mr. Wisdom's 500. At night Mr. Wisdom was " off colour," but still he managed to reach 971 to his opponent's 810. At this juncture Mr. Ogden found his " form " with a ven- geance and, playing a beautiful game with indomitable pluck, subscribed a brilliant break of 144, a very fine effort indeed on a standard table under the new rules, and all the more praise- worthy coming when it did. This big run, however, did not suffice to avert defeat, and Mr. Wis- dom soon after went Septilin Syrup out the winner of a close game by 37 points. On Wednesday, March 8th, Mr. Vahid and Mr. Wear had to try conclusions, and this pa me, which all through furnished one of the keenest and best -contested struggles imaginable, ended, after another most exciting finish, in a 1899. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. 313 victory for Mr. Vahid by the narrow majority of 13 points. On Thursday, March 9th, yet another treat was in store for the lover of close finishes, when Mr, Vahid met Mr. Wisdom in the last of t^e preliminary heats. The afternoon sitting left the scores : Mr. Vahid, 501 ; Mr. Wisdom, 453. In the evening Mr. Vahid established a good lead, which, however, he failed to hold, and Mr. Wisdom, playing up in plucky style, gained a well - deserved victory by 53 points. Friday, March ioth, brought us to the last stage of the compe- tition, when Mr. Fry had to defend his title of Amateur Billiard Champion against Mr. Wisdom, who had survived his brother aspirants for championship hon- ours. The game, which was 1,500 up, was commenced before a large company. Mr. Wisdom, playing with freedom and confidence, was quickly off Septilin Himalaya the mark with useful breaks of 45, 81, 40 and 56, whilst Mr. Fry was all but idle, and secured a lead of over 300 points* Then the holder woke up, and playing in his real form, put to- gether a fine break of 168, the highest in the competition. At the interval the scores read : Mr, Wisdom, 750; Mr. Fry, 618. The fine theatre was crowded on the resumption of play Septilin Tablets in the evening. Mr. Wisdom, with 70 as his best run, held his lead till Mr. Fry, in a brilliant break of 76, passed him at 1,073. The scores were again level at 1,1 n, after which Himalaya Septilin play ruled slow. Mr. Wisdom was not again, however, to be deprived of his lead, and was ultimately returned the win- ner of the Amateur Billiard Cham- pionship by 203 points, a result which, we imagine, must have come as a surprise to Mr. Fry and his friends. The spot-stroke is now dead and buried, and though at first its summary abolition seemed par- ticularly "rough on M those who had given it undivided attention