George Gray Billiards Champion

GRAY, THE WIZARD.

World's Tour with Stevenson.

London, April 4.
George Gray, the young Australian billiard marvel, and HW Stevenson, the English player, have arranged to undertake a world's tour, during which they will give exhibitions of the game.

The champions will leave England on May 18 for South Africa. After a tour of the new Dominion, they will proceed to India, where they will spend some time. They hope to reach Australia in April next year.

GRAY BEATS STEVENSON

Examiner (Launceston, Tasmania) 02/04/1912, p5

LONDON, April 1.
George Gray, the young Australian and HW Stevenson, the English champion, concluded their billiard match in Glasgow yesterday. The game was 9000 up, and bonzoline balls were used.

Gray ran out when Stevenson's score stood at 7408.

ROBERTS SUES GRAY

The Advertiser (Adelaide) 19/02/1912, p9

THE GRAY-ROBERTS DISPUTE
LONDON, February 17
The hearing of the action brought by John Roberts, former champion of the world, against George Gray, the Australian player, for breach of contract was concluded yesterday. The alleged contract related to a proposed tour of the world by Roberts and Gray, which was to occupy 18 months. Roberts claimed £6,000 damages.

The defence offered by Gray was that at the time of making the contract he was an "infant" in the eye of the law [and therefore unable to enter into a contract], and that the plaintiff misrepresented the facts concerning the dates of play. Roberts denied this, and added in reply to the Lord Chief Justice that he hoped to make £10,000 a year profit as a result of the tour. He asserted that he made a profit of upwards of £250 a day while playing publicly in India, and £2,300 in a fortnight in London while playing Dawson.

Gray, in his evidence, said he was sure it was arranged in Melbourne that he and Roberts should play together always, but the question of what balls should be used was not mentioned. His reputation had suffered through the changing of the balls but he hoped to secure the English championship, although it might take a year or two.

After George Gray sen, HW Stevenson and EJ Riley, under contract with whom Gray came to England, had given evidence, the court awarded Roberts £1,500 compensation for the breaking of the agreement.

The Australasian (Victoria) 20/01/1912, p25

GRAY DEFEATS STEVENSON

George Gray, the Australian, has for the second time defeated HW Stevenson, the champion billiard player of the world, in a match of 18,000-up level. The game, which concluded on Saturday night at Liverpool, was the second of the series of three which had been arranged by the pair for £500 a-side, to be played with bonzoline balls. Although Gray has won the rubber, the third match will take place next month in accordance with arrangements.

Gray won the first game by 636 and the second by 771. The play at the Friday sessions was all in favour of the Australian, whose average was 59 compared with 49 by Stevenson, while he made a break of 621. When the pair met on Saturday, the scores were:- Gray 16,338; Stevenson 15,808. There was a large attendance. Gray, playing well, increased his lead, and reached the winning points with a break of 317, unfinished. He was accorded an enthusiastic demonstration for his performance.

The Capricornian (Qld) 30/12/1911, p25

It is difficult to realise that the well-mannered young lad, George Gray, who toured Central Queensland only three or four years ago, is now virtually champion billiardist of the world. Possibly the match of 18,000 up he has just won from the champion HW Stevenson may not have had the championship among its provisions, yet the fact remains that Stevenson has been beaten on level terms, and a man beaten under such conditions cannot possibly be the champion in fact. Gray has proved a veritable wonder, and as he is still in his teens, it is probable he will further improve. To play such a long game for money against an experienced opponent was a great ordeal for the Australian lad. For the greater part of the game Stevenson led; but Gray stuck to him with dogged determination, and taking the lead in the last few sessions, won by 636 points.

Chronicle (SA) 23/12/1911, p20

GRAY DEFEATS STEVENSON

London, December 17. The billiard match, 18,000 points, between HW Stevenson (champion of the world) and George Gray (the Australian champion), was continued on Friday. The Australian again had the best of the play. At the afternoon session Gray totalled 869 points against Stevenson's 698. At night, Gray was brilliantly consistent, and on four occasions his breaks topped the hundred. His average for the night was 57 points per visit to the table. Stevenson's average was 24. The scores when play ceased for the day were Gray 16,500, Stevenson 15,583.

The match was concluded on Saturday, when Gray won. On the conclusion of the game, the Australian received a great ovation. The final scores were Gray 18,000, Stevenson 17,364.

Sydney Morning Herald 21/06/1911, p9

GRAY'S VICTORY OVER INMAN

The most important matches during the past fortnight have been those between George Gray and Melbourne Inman, and the Fred Lindrum v T Reece matches in Victoria and Sydney.

As was expected, Gray defeated Inman in his match of 16,000 up, but the margin, the enormous one of 8769 points - or more than half the game - was unexpectedly large.

As Inman is HW Stevenson's most dangerous opponent in contests for the world's championship, and as Gray has defeated him so signally, it would appear as if the Australian youth is capable of defeating Stevenson - at least, with crystalate balls.

As it is Gray's intention to enter for the English championship next season, added interest will be given to that event. So far, Gray's reputation has been built up by the aid of composition balls, and it remains to be seen how the change to ivories will affect his play.

Thomas Reece, who is at present playing Fred Lindrum at Alcock's Tournament Hall, asked his opinion as to the possibilities of Gray winning the next English championship, said: "Of that I can form no definite opinion, nor can anyone else, until we have seen how Gray gets on with ivory balls. He has two difficulties to get over - first the ivory ball, and next HW Stevenson - and, in view of the opinions I have expressed, both are very considerable."

The Barrier Miner (Broken Hill) 13/05/1911, p5

GEORGE GRAY ON BILLIARDS
HIS INSTRUCTION OF THE GAME

"Red Ball Play" (Cassells) is a shilling booklet by George Gray, the Australian billiard wonder. Its purpose is to tell the amateur how to master the losing hazard. The most interesting parts are the opening chapters, in which Gray describes how he was instructed in the elements of the game by his father before he was allowed to play an opponent.

The booklet runs to 128 pages and is written in a thoroughly practical manner throughout.

Billiards in the Twentieth Century - Riso Levi
GEORGE GRAY.
In the old days, no billiards player in his first public matches in Great Britain created anything approaching the great sensation in billiards circles that George Gray did, when, as a boy of 18, he began playing in England. His fame had preceded him, for before he came to us he had already twice travelled into the ninth hundred in exhibition matches in Australia. When it was known that Gray was on his way to London, speculation was rife both amongst amateurs and professionals as to what breaks he would compile in this country. I remember discussing the question with a well-known professional. Something like the following exchanges were made between us:

How long do you think it will be before Gray makes a thousand break when he gets here? I asked.
He’ll never make a thousand break here, replied the professional.

Why not? You know very well that he has twice got well over 800 by red-ball play.
Yes, I’ve read of those breaks, but you know as well as I do what mistakes markers often make when they call out the breaks.

I know all about that, but markers or referees don’t make mistakes of hundreds. And even if we allow that either or both of these two great breaks were only 700 odd, or even only 600 odd, instead of close on 900, have you yourself ever made a 600 odd by red-ball play?
I tell you he’ll never make breaks of this size in England.

Why won’t he?
"Why won’t he? Because he’ll be up against a different class of players here. He’ll be playing on different tables, and against different opponents, too, and the English climate will also affect his play.

I don’t agree with you. A boy who has already made such colossal breaks is bound to come on a lot more in the next year or two. In my opinion, he will not only succeed in reaching four figures here, but will accomplish this more than once. You don’t believe he will make a thousand break in England because you don’t want him to.
Well, we shall see.

Yes, we shall see.

And we did see, because Gray had only been playing here for a few weeks before he made his first thousand break and in the same month that saw that great break no less than four other breaks which exceeded four figures came from his cue. Two or three months later I wrote an article on the great Australian which commenced with these words:

I confess to a feeling of disappointment when I open my paper in the morning and find that George Gray’s biggest break on the preceding day was only a mere 700 or 800.

This will show how much British players were always expecting of the Australian, and, of course, the reason that they expected so much was because he was regularly putting up such wonderful achievements. During his first season in Great Britain, Gray, in addition to making a vast number of breaks which exceeded 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900, crossed the 1,000-mark line on no less than 23 occasions. Quite a number of his compilations exceeded 1,300, 1,400, and 1,500, and in a match against the late Cecil Harverson he ran to game with a colossal 2,196 unfinished.

The Tamworth Daily Observer (NSW) 25/03/1911, p10

GEORGE GRAY REVOLUTIONISES BILLIARDS

A writer in the London "Daily Mail" says:-

It looks as though another championship were about to leave our shores and as though London, the home and school of billiards, would have to acknowledge George Gray, the Australian stripling, as the king of living players. He has defeated Diggle, a first-class player, wish such ludicrous ease as to make it doubtful whether we have any professional capable of standing up to him. He comes to us, this smooth-cheeked, clean-run, lithe, attractive-looking boy: he meets men who have been playing billiards for longer years than he has been alive, and he not only beats them all but revolutionises the entire game.

And no one of the thousands who have gathered to see him play grudges him his success for one moment. A modest, unflurried, taking youth, with a sense of humor and real sportsman, his whole air and appearance prepossesses one in his favor. To see him walking with quick, light steps to his ball, bending over his cue till it all but touches his chin, working the balls into position for his favorite stroke, and then reeling off losing hazards into the middle pockets by the dozen, the score, the hundred - with no two strokes quite alike, is to see what is in its way as perfect an exhibition of eye, and strength and "side" and delicacy as has ever been witnessed on the billiard table.

Observer (SA) 25/03/1911, p22

GRAY'S GREATEST

London, March 19. George Gray concluded his match with Harverson yesterday. When the Australian marvel had completed his score of 8,000, his opponent had made 3804.

The young wizard of the cue gave a remarkably fine exhibition, in which he eclipsed all previous performances to his credit, and established another world's record, which is likely to remain unbeaten for a long time, unless Gray himself surpasses his latest effort. He made the sensational break of 2,196 unfinished. This great score included 540 consecutive losing hazards. To compile it, Gray monopolized three whole sessions of the play. There was great excitement among the spectators who thronged the building, and a tremendous outburst of enthusiasm when the Australian passed the 2,000 mark. This unprecedented triumph in billiards evoked loud cheering, and for many minutes there was quite a furore. His previous best break was 1,576, made at the beginning of this month.

The Australasian (Vic) 11/03/1911, p23

GRAY'S BILLIARDS - A WORLD RECORD

London, March 2. George Gray has eclipsed all previous performances in his exhibition match with George Nelson, the Yorkshire player.

He made a break of 1,576, thus beating his own score of 1,402 on February 8, in Manchester, which was hitherto the world's record.

The Argus (Vic) 18/02/1911, p6

GRAY'S BILLIARDS
The three-fold victory of Gray, the 18 year old Australian, over Diggle, the English master, establishes his position beyond doubt.

As he plays billiards, he has no equal.

Apropos of his fleet win from Diggle, the 'Daily Telegraph' "Expert" reports that the sessions held in Nottingham were attended by from 1,500 to 2,000 persons a day, or twice as many as Roberts ever drew together in a provincial town when at the top of his fame.

"The prolific scoring of George Gray, his tender years, striking personality and typified earnestness have, unmistakably, caught the public fancy, apart from his record-breaking achievements."

Geelong Advertiser (Vic) 09/02/1911, p3

GRAY'S BILLIARDS
BREAK OF 1402 in 115 minutes.
London, February 8th. George Gray, the young Australian billiardist, is now playing Diggle a match of 8000 up at Manchester. The scores at the close of yesterday's play were Gray 2668, Diggle 1760. Gray made another huge break, compiling 1402 in 115 minutes, beating his own world's record of 1340 made in a match with Duncan a few days ago. Yesterday's break included 1335 off the red in successive strokes.

The West Australian 16/02/1911, p9

Under the heading "Billiards in 1910", a writer in the London "Sportsman" of January 7 has the following:-

"A noteworthy year in the history of the game has just closed. Most important of them all was the debut here of George Gray, the wonderful Australian youth, whose performances in Australia in scoring huge red-ball losing hazard breaks had caused the public to anticipate something extraordinary. Gray had not been playing in England a week before he caused the old hands to sit and wonder. Never in their wildest moment did they imagine that a man would accomplish such things. That a youth of less than twenty summers should do so was even more wonderful. Hardly two days passed in which Gray did not make a 500 break, and in the end, so completely did he 'boss' the situation, that he now draws the public in their hundreds to the places where he plays.

He has made three times more breaks of over 500 in a little over three months, than the first five English players made in one year.

The Argus (Victoria) 30/01/1911, p7

A NEW WORLD'S RECORD

London, January 29.
George Gray the young Australian billiard champion, has defeated Duncan, the Irish champion, even more decisively than he did last week. Scores at the conclusion of play last night were: Gray 9000, Duncan (receives 2000) 4150.

In the course of the match, Gray made a break of 1,340, which now stands as the world's record, beating his own record of 1318 made two weeks ago.

In the Sporting Arena: Marvellous George Gray 18/01/1911

The marvellous young Australian, whose phenomenal performances with the cue have given him worldwide fame.

The Horsham Times (Victoria) 10/01/1911, p3

CHAMPION GEORGE GRAY

ANOTHER WORLD'S RECORD

In the match of 8000 up with Diggle, George Gray, the phenomenal Australian billiard player, broke his own world's record at Nottingham on Friday.

He monopolised the evening session in compiling an unfinished break of 1137. There was a crowded house when the afternoon's session began. Intense excitement prevailed in view of the fact that Gray only wanted seven to surpass the record of 1143 he made on 12th November and equalled on 30th December. Gray soon put his previous efforts in the shade, and carried the break to 1200 before he failed with a shot. Prolonged cheering greeted the end of the great break. Gray added still further to his laurels at night, when he again monopolised the table for the whole of the session, and made an unfinished break of 1015. The match was concluded on Saturday, the scores being Gray 8000; Diggle 3823.

There was an excited demonstration on Saturday when Gray broke his Friday's record by scoring 1318, of which 1314 were off the red.

Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney), 11/01/1911, p49

THE GRAY BOOM

Young George Gray has the billiard world at his feet. His doings in England have been sensational, and E Diggle, one of the best players, has just received a severe drubbing at the hands of the boy champion from Australia. They met at Nottingham in a match of 8000 up level, and when the end came on January 7, Gray had a margin of 4177 points, Diggle having scored only 3823.

The young Australian on January 5, for the first time in his career, occupied the entire evening session, leaving off with an unfinished break of 1137. The next afternoon Gray continued his break, and increased it to 1200, thus beating his own world's record of 1143. There was prolonged cheering when he had finished.

The Express and Telegraph (SA) 06/01/1911, p6

GRAY INTERVIEWED

"Never shall I forget my early schooling on the green cloth. My father used to place a certain wooden peg in the side of a top-corner pocket, allowing just enough space for the ball the get through. The red ball was then placed on the centre spot, and what I had to do was to make a losing hazard into the guarded top pocket without touching the peg. I mastered it in the end, but it wasn't easy. Important business called my father away up country and he gave me a holiday of five months. However, I didn't give myself one, for I was really billiards-bitten, and my holiday resolved itself into nine solid hours' practice every day upon the red ball. When my father returned, I had considerably improved and he came to the conclusion that my rest had done me good. But no matter how expert he be, there is always something more for the billiard player to accomplish" declared the young champion. "I am always setting myself angle-problems and touch-tests, and I have played the same shot over thousands of times in practice."

The Evening Star, 14/12/1910 p4

GEORGE GRAY INTERVIEWED IN ENGLAND

What is the most difficult shot that you play?

"The run-through into the middle pocket. In addition to judging the strength and the hitting my own and the object ball correctly, I have to play into a 'blind' pocket."

Sporting Life London, 12/11/1910

"It has come at last! Yesterday afternoon George Gray reached the goal of all billiard players of a past and present generation, and gained the distinction of being the first player to make a four-figure break off the balls.
.... Then at 999, the boy's father, in the mistaken belief that the magic 1,000 had been reached, stepped forward and embraced his son. This was the cue for a tremendous outburst of applause, which continued for a couple of minutes before Nelson's voice could be heard announcing that one more stroke was required. The lad, outwardly the coolest figure in the room, made no mistake with the next shot, when the enthusiasm broke out afresh. His father greeted him most affectionately once more, then Mr RH Rimington-Wilson, who was an interested spectator, shook the now smiling lad warmly by the hand, an example that was followed by Mr Riley, Nelson, Lovejoy (who did not have a stroke), Harverson, and many others.

In view of the new and startling world's record established by Gray, it may prove interesting and instructive to peruse the following list of best breaks compiled by present-day players:-

G Gray 1143
C Dawson 823
J Roberts 821
H Stevenson 802
E Diggle 791
T Reece 645
M Inman 625
A Williams 593
T Aiken 577
C Harverson 567
F Bateman 545
F Weiss 541
W Mitchell 497
W Cook jun 476
W Lovejoy 470

Reflections
The Evening Post Leeds, 21/12/1960

"Gray, who stepped into the world billiards scene, when at the age of 17, he made 831 off the red in a record break of 836 in Australia in 1909, had a lot to do with George Nelson when he came to England. For hours each day in a room in one of Mr Nelson's billiard halls - that in Kirkstall Road in Leeds - he practised the "in-off-the-red" shot.

Gray's father once said that when his son first arrived in England, he had 10 weeks' practice before he tackled his first match - ten weeks with each day an eight-hour affair on the green cloth with the red ball as the one objective!"

The Sportsman London, 25/07/1910

GEORGE GRAY IN LONDON
World's Record Break Holder Arrives
to play in England next season

The Arrow (Syndney) 21/05/1910, p12

"In a recent number of an English paper, HW Stevenson pays glowing tribute to George Gray's record red break of 831. "Enter, if you can," writes the champion, "into the whole of the two hundred and seventy-seven consecutive strokes, and realise, if this be possible, the enormity of the task! Then, too, think of the player's feelings, the tax upon his endurance, the trying period when he passed the previous best on record - his own - at the one hundred and seventy-second stroke, and the tax put upon him as he neared the completion of this truly extra-ordinary feat. It is something to think about!"

Referree (Sydney) 08/06/1910, p14

GEORGE GRAY'S FAREWELL
"During a chat on Saturday night, the boy asked me to thank Australians and New Zealanders on his behalf for the uniform kindness and patronage extended to him since he came under their notice. "You can say, sir," said George, "that I will make every endeavor during my career to uphold the honor of my country, both on and off the table, and if, when I suffer defeat, my friends can rely that it will be through no lapse on my part." The lad is under engagement to the Crystalate Ball Company for 12 months, after which he joins John Roberts for two years on most advantageous terms."

Sydney Morning Herald 13/06/1910, p10

"GEORGE GRAY GOES TO ENGLAND
By the Osterley young George Gray left on Saturday for London. Gray holds the world's record for the biggest break. This was in a match against Fred Lindrum junior at Melbourne, when the boy billiardist ran up the mammoth score of 836, of which 831 were off the red ball."

Leader (Melbourne) 09/04/1910, p19
"Young George Gray and Fred Lindrum junior, accompanied by their fathers, arrived in Melbourne from New Zealand via Tasmania. They have had a most successful business tour, lasting several months, in New Zealand, both look the picture of health. Concerning young Gray, who holds the world's record, viz 836, made in Melbourne last winter, arrangements have been made by Mr Warnford Davis, manager of the Eudolithic Manufacturing Co., for him to visit England next billiard season and measure cues with some of the crack billiard exponents of the old world. Gray, accompanied by his father, Harry Gray, will leave for England June next."

Singleton Argus (NSW) 09/04/1910, p2
"George Gray has definitely decided to leave for England in June. Mr Warneford Davis, maker of the crystalate ball, who was here a few months back representing the London Chamber of Commerce, has made arrangements for our boy's appearance in the old country, and as he will be accompanied by his father, who is up to every move in the game, the lad should be in a position to show his true form down under, more especially if he sticks close the the playing material which he has been brought up to. If the youth leaves early, as announced, he will arrive in England during July, when the weather conditions are just beautiful as can be obtained on this earth. The billiard season will have closed until the end of August, so he can indulge in practice, and be fit to step into the pit at the top of his form when the season starts."

The Age, 23/02/1910, p14
"The Victorian Billiard Association is in receipt of a certificate from the Billiard Association of Great Britain, Ireland and the Colonies, testifying to young George Gray's double [world] record of 25th August last, in which he scored 836, at Alcock's billiard parlor, Melbourne, the highest break under modern rules, and 831 off the red ball (the highest one ball break), when playing Fred Lindrum junior. The break, it will be remembered was made with crystalate balls. Around the certificate will be seen the names of past billiard champions. Accompanying the certificate is a handsome gold medal. The certificate and medal are now being exhibited in the window of Alcock and Co. Proprietary Ltd. Elizabeth Streeet [Melbourne]."

Billiards by Spot Stroke 22/12/1909
"Messrs Fred Lindrum and George Gray, who are touring New Zealand under the direction of Messrs Alcock and Co., have completed a successful season in Wellington, and are at present engaged in playing a number of exhibition games throughout [the country]". The Weekly Press 22/12/1909

LONDON - The Billiard Association has granted George Gray, the young Australian champion, record certificates for 831 off the red, and a break of 836. In view of the decision of the Billiard Association, his visit to England should be awaited with interest. [The Daily Telegraph 21/10/1909]

George first came to the attention of the English billiards press in 1909, when in a match against Fred Lindrum in Melbourne on the 25th August 1909, George made a world record break of 836, of which 831 were scored from the red ball.

26 Aug 1909 – Evening News Sydney, p2
Billiards – Gray’s World’s Record.
"A world’s record off the red and a world’s record break were established by young George Gray in the match at Melbourne against Fred Lindrum. He finished the Wednesday afternoon session with a break of 482 (477 off the red) and resuming at night, he went on until he reached 836, of which 831 were off the red. The wonderful losing hazard player was about 78 minutes making his score, which beats Stevenson’s 802, the previous highest break made in the world at the spot-barred game. Lindrum was the first to congratulate Gray on his achievements. Gray’s previous best breaks were 581 (of which 504 were off the red) made in Melbourne on his previous visit; and 568 (all in) and 527 (off the red) in Sydney. The scores at the end of the evening session were:- Gray (receives 1000) 4750, Lindrum 3337. The latter is 663 behind his sessional points. Gray, it should be mentioned is 17 years of age."

From 1907 to 1909, George was frequently touring Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria with his father.

By mid 1906, George Gray had made breaks of 513, 495 and 453 all off the red ball and was described as “The Queensland Wonder” [The Referee, 18/07/1906] and the “Remarkable Boy Billiardist” [Western Mail Perth, 21/7/1906, p24]

[The Referee, 18 July 1906] "A new star had arisen – a sort of nebulous body that was likely to crystalise into a planet larger and more brilliant than any star in our billiard constellation – in the person of the modest, handsome boy, whose picture graces this page. I first heard rumour of his doings in the Capital of the Sugar State a month back, but the tale was so strong that I would not give it credence.
Our Brisbane Correspondent’s Views – Dear “Snooker”, Enclosed I am sending you a photo of young George Gray (who has been scoring with most remarkable form with the billiard cue here within the last month), in the hope that you may find a corner for it in your column. The youngster is only 14 years old, an age at which it is doubtful if there was ever a player in Australia his equal. He has been studying the game under his father’s tuition for the past couple of years, but it was only in the last few months that the gift (for it really is a gift) came to him. He is quite a phenomenon, with a knowledge of the table and all the tricks with the balls that is most marvellous for one so young. His strongest point just now is with the losing hazard stroke, and you will seen where on the 15th June he compiled no less than 171 of these, making a record break for Australia with 513. On Tuesday afternoon last, he played Mr J Nesbit (a good amateur) 500 up, and beat him by over a hundred, his first break being 102. It is intended that he shall continue practising for another 12 months before going on tour when in all probability, he will create quite a sensation in the billiard world.