Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 5).djvu/392

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THE STRAND MAGAZINE.
393

JOHN ROBERTS.

Born 1847.

Age 2.
From a Photograph.
Age 26.
From a Photograph by Whitlock, Birmingham.
Age 16.
From a Photograph.
Present Day.
From a Photo. by Ahrle, Bombay.


J OHN ROBERTS, the finest billiard player the world has ever seen, was born at Ardwick, Manchester. He commenced his career as a billiard player very early in life, for when only a child of eleven he assisted his father at the George Hotel, in Liverpool, his father at the time being universally considered the best in England, and, consequently, we find that he had in early life the very best model from which to study the game. Some thirty years ago, when Roberts's father was champion, a break of over 200 was a rare event, whereas now it is an everyday occurrence with third-rate players. Roberts's highest all-round break is 3,000. His superiority to those who rank next to him is unprecedented, as evinced by his recent victory over Peall, to whom he gave 9,000 in 24,000. Roberts's style is simply perfect, and it is wonderful to watch the various strokes during a long break, consisting as they do of some requiring great execution and power of cue, and others showing the utmost delicacy of touch.

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