Hoppe, Willie

in full William Frederick Hoppe

born Oct. 11, 1887, Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, N.Y., U.S.

died Feb. 1, 1959, Miami, Fla.

U.S. billiards player.

Hoppe was taught billiards by his hotelkeeper father. A master of carom technique, he became one of the most durable of all sports champions, winning 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952. In the 1940 tournament in Chicago he was undefeated in 20 matches. He retired in 1952.

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▪ American billiards player

byname of  William Frederick Hoppe  

born Oct. 11, 1887, Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, N.Y., U.S.

died Feb. 1, 1959, Miami

 U.S. master of carom (balkline and three-cushion) billiards, was one of the most durable of all sports champions, winning 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952.

      After being taught billiards by his father, a hotelkeeper, so that he could win money from travelling salesmen, Hoppe (then 18) captured the world 18.1 balkline championship from Maurice Vignaux in Paris in 1906. He then set a world record (not broken until 1926) by running 622 points in an 18.2 balkline exhibition. In balkline play he was world champion for many years in both 18.1 (1906–07, 1909–11, 1914–26, 1927; competition discontinued after he regained the title in 1927) and 18.2 (1907, 1910–20, 1923–24, 1927). Subsequently concentrating on the three-cushion game, he won 12 annual world championship tournaments (1936, 1940–44, 1947–52). In the 1940 tournament in Chicago he was undefeated in 20 matches. He retired after successfully defending his title in 1952.

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