The World Trick Shot Championship is a world championship of trick shot billiards. It took place at snooker tables and was the first competition to be held. It was organized by Matchroom Sport. Matchroom Sport organised the event. Players were evaluated on technical merit and presentation. The 2005 competition took place at Celtic Manor.
In the 1970s, trick shots were popular among professional billiards players around the world. These players were awarded prizes including the World Championship of Artistic Pool (ICCP), the International Challenge Cup and the Swedish Championship. Today trick shot is a sanctioned form of pool by the World Pool-Billiard Society. Apart from participating in tournaments, trick shooters also teach the sport.
Mike Massey, a trick-shot artist from the UK, has been a household name since the late 1970s. He has played many games with sports celebrities, such as Jason Gedrick and Paul Sorvino. Massey has also been a key figure in the sport as an instructor and a fund raiser. His performances at the Waste Management Pheonix Open and the Volvo PGA at Wentworth have garnered him a significant level of visibility.
Mike Massey is a teacher of many professionals in the field, including Scott Baiin (Dean Cain) and James Tolkan. He has competed in several international professional competitions. In 2002, he was part of Team U.S.A. which won the trick shot championship world title. This team has also performed at the HSBC Championships in Abu Dhabi and at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Jim Sommer is another talented trick shot artist. He has participated at many international Trick-shot turning competitions and has also traveled all over the United States to compete for the US Nationals. He was the winner of the US Nationals Artistic Pool Championship.
The World Trick Shot Artists Association or WTSAA is an international association of trick-shot artists. Paul Gerni, a world champion in trick shot, organizes the association. There are 160 tricks in the WTSAA book. Some of these tricks are the machine gun shot (kick), quick-fire shot, and other trick shots. Other trick shots include: the "pro", the "extreme" and the "proper" shots.
Tim "The Dragon", Chin, was the 2022 US Nationals Artistic Pool Champion. He defeated Jason "The Michigan Kid," Lynch to take the prestigious title. Both Lynch and Chin are WPA World Ranked. Lynch is still a student at Ohio State. However, Chin is an experienced professional who has the advantage.
October 9-10 will see the next Trick Shot Magic event. The event will include eight international stars. They will compete for a prize of $40,000. Each player will be able to choose six to ten pre-defined shots. Each player will have three chances to complete each shot after they've chosen their favorite shots. Those who make a successful shot will earn a point.
Geoff McIlroy has been the greatest trick shot artist on the planet for many years. Noel Hunt taught him how to do trick shots. He has met people he never imagined and fallen from ladders. But he hasn't stopped trying.