Hoppe, "Willie" (William F.)
Billiards
b. Oct. 11, 1887, Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY
d. Feb. 1, 1959
When he was five years old, Hoppe began playing billiards by climbing up on a box to reach the table at the hotel his father operated. He became known as the "Boy Wonder" when he was nine and he began playing professionally before he was fourteen.
Hoppe won the world 18.1 balkline championship by beating Maurice Vignaux of France on January 15, 1906. He also held that title in 1908, from 1909 through 1911, and from 1914 through 1926. After losing the championship to Jake Schaefer Jr. in 1926, Hoppe regained it in 1927, the last year competition took place in that form of billiards.
The world 18.2 balkline champion in 1907, from 1910 through 1920, from 1923 through 1924, and in 1927, Hoppe began concentrating on three-cushion billiards in the 1930s. He won world championships in 1936, from 1940 through 1944, and from 1947 until his retirement in 1952.
Many of Hoppe's records still stand, including an unbelievable run of 622 in 18.2 balkline during an exhibition in 1912. He set records with runs of 20 points in three-cushion league play in 1927 and three-cushion match play in 1945, and he ran a record 25 points in a 1928 exhibition against Charles C. Peterson. His grand tournament average of 1.33 in 1950 is also a record.