Sexton vs. Slosson. Tammany Hall, N. Y. City, January 27th.—$1,000. Sexton, 600—15.38—73; Slosson, 482—110. It was this match, with its high winning average, that determined the choice of Sexton over Slosson to go to Paris as challenger of Vignaux to the last game for the first world’s championship, which see under 1873.
Schaefer’s First Public Match in the East. Ford’s Opera-house, Washington, D. C., April 26th.—Announced as for $2,500 a side. Lewis Shaw, 600—10.72—69; Jacob Schaefer, 547—76. It was because of Shaw’s victory that he, instead of Schaefer, was admitted to the Centennial Tournament of May following.
Centennial Tournament. Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia, May 15–27th.—300–point games. This tournament took its rise in a purse of $1,000 proffered by Frank Queen, editor of the New York Clipper, to whichever billiard manufacturer should add most. H. W. Collender added $4,000. J. Dion, Daly, and Rudolphe played off their ties in Irving Hall, this city, June 5, 6, 7, with the results shown here in apportioning the prizes. Nine games apiece. Average of tournament, 10.07.
| W. | R. | Av. | G. A. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wm. Sexton ($2,000) | 8 | 287[[8]] | 60.[[8]] | 14.73[[8]] |
| A. Garnier ($1,200) | 7 | 176 | 37.50 | 13.78 |
| G. F. Slosson ($800) | 6 | 103 | 21.43 | 13.48 |
| J. Dion ($600) | 5 | 106 | 50. | 14.26 |
| M. Daly ($400) | 5 | 153 | 23.08 | 13.04 |
| A. P. Rudolphe | 5 | 175 | 23.08 | 12.66 |
| J. Bessunger | 4 | 91 | 12.50 | 7.83 |
| C. Dion | 3 | 86 | 15.79 | 8.72 |
| L. Shaw | 1 | 62 | 6.98 | 7.26 |
| M. Foster | 1 | 79 | 6.38 | 7.29 |
[8]. Beating record—Daly’s 212, Garnier and C. Dion’s 30 and Daly’s 12.32.
The runs of 251 and 287 by Sexton were the first public exhibitions of straightforward railing (term shortened to “straight rail”). Before that, players hugged the rail, or cushion, by close nursing, not going far forward, and especially aiming to keep near a corner.
First of Long Games in Tournaments. Irving Hall, N. Y. City, June 8–16th.—$1,500 in prize-money, 600–point games, one a night, instead of two short ones. In playing off ties, Rudolphe averaged 25 and ran 127 against Sexton, while Slosson against Garnier ran 311, thus beating record, which was Sexton’s 287. Average of tournament was the high one of 15.88. Garnier’s 17.84 eclipsed the general-average record, which was Sexton’s 14.73.