Willie Hoppe

William Frederick Hoppe (October 11, 1887 – February 1, 1959) (surname rhymes with "poppy"[1][2][3]), was an internationally renowned American professional carom billiards champion.

[6] He is buried in Whitemarsh Cemetery in Ambler, Pa. Hoppe won 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952.

Hoppe's peculiar style of stroke was a result of his career as a child prodigy.

In Billiards As It Should Be Played Hoppe emphatically advised players not to use his way of directing the cue.

Hoppe may have been the only billiards player to ever put on an exhibition in the White House.

Willie Hoppe, ca. 1910-1915
Willie Hoppe on the cover of the magazine El Gráfico in 1949, with Ezequiel Navarra, an Argentine player who had just defeated him.