BCA NORTH AMERICAN
"ARTISTIC POOL" CHAMPIONSHIP
2002 World Qualifier
(Professional Skill Level)

Good News: Good Times At Hard Times!
The crusade of “artistic pool” – documented, sanctioned, and open to all – marches on!! On October 25th, 2001, seven of the greatest “artistic pool” cueists on the planet converged on Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower, CA. The BCA North American “Artistic Pool” Championship (Professional Skill Level) took place on October 26 and 27…with the objective of determining 2 players that would represent the BCA/North American continent at the 3rd Annual WPA World “Artistic Pool” Championships in Willingen, Germany on February 22 and 23, 2002.
The defending champion, Tom “Dr. Cue”® Rossman, would be challenged by 2000 WPA World “Artistic Pool” Champion, Mike Massey and several other highly spirited and determined competitors. Mr. Massey, by virtue of his loss to Mr. Charles Darling in the 2001 WPA World “Artistic Pool” Championship, had to qualify once again for the opportunity to travel to Germany in 2002. Mr. Darling would receive an automatic berth in the Germany event for being the 2001 World Champion.
The remaining players were composed of a highly skilled field of “artistic pool” enthusiasts and “champion” style characteristics. Paul Gerni made his first debut in a sanctioned BCA “artistic pool” event, and revived a 19 year hiatus of a Massey, Rossman, and Gerni “artistic pool” challenge. With the 1982 McDermott Masters World Championship in Trick and Fancy Shots determining a Rossman (1st), Gerni (2nd), Mataya (3rd), and Massey (4th) order of finish, this California reunion was sure to produce a crowd pleasing spectacle. NOTE: Mr. Mataya was not present in this event.
The “who’s who” list of competitors continued with Steve Geller, 1979 and 1980 BCA National Trick and Fancy Shot Champion, 3rd place in the 2001 BCA North American “Artistic Pool” Championship, 7th place in the 2000 event of the same name, and the 2001 BCA Masse Discipline Champion. Ken “Sarge” Aylesworth, who finished 4th in the 2000 BCA North American “Artistic Pool” Championship was a force to be reckoned with in this event and very determined to give everyone all they could handle. Nick Mannino returned to the “artistic pool” arena after a 4th place finish in the 2001 event. The whisper within the ranks of those in attendance was that he had honed his skills to new levels, and that everyone had better be in prime form to withstand his challenge. Finally, a newcomer to this ultimate “artistic pool” challenge, Rick Malm, was coming off an “artistic pool” 2nd place finish in his first ever “artistic pool” event conducted by the “Sarge” in Washington state several weeks before this current event. Mr. Malm had only started practicing the “artistic pool” shot/challenge program in early summer…in his first exposure to this unique cuesport activity. Getting lessons and helpful hints from Massey, Rossman, and Aylesworth for several months now would produce a competitive challenge…unexpected by most, but a welcome site to all.
A 32 shot/challenge program (8 disciplines with 4 shots/challenges in each), and Degree of Difficulty (D.O.D.) rated from 5 to 11, plus a special scoring scale for the Wing Shot Challenge, would be the established structure format. Each player would get 3 attempts on the D.O.D. challenges, with maximum points scored for a 1st attempt make, one point less than maximum for a 2nd attempt make, and two points less than maximum for a 3rd attempt make. After all the shots/challenges are shot, the total points scored would place the players in order of finish for prize money, world travel, and/or medal awards. Each discipline champion would receive a special award, in addition, to the overall “artistic pool” champion and runner-up, plus a sportsmanship award provided by Mike Massey…based upon the field of players voting for that honor.
Ken Thomason, owner of Hard Times Billiards, put out the “welcome wagon” for everyone and provided 860 Simonis cloth on a newly recovered Gold Crown table in his tournament room. A practice table was also provided for shot enhancement and “tuning” between the qualifying rounds of competition. A concern by the players with the extremely “tight pockets” would add to the challenge of this demanding cuesport artform.
GTS Ministries and its founder, Steve Lillis, would supervise and direct the tournament. A “good news”/spiritual accent to this event has become a mainstay of “artistic pool” competitions, since Steve became the directing force in the “crusade” of worldwide “artistic pool” with the WPA/BCA. On both day 1 and day 2, audience members would be treated to and encouraged by a GTS program of “artistic show” shots by Mike Massey, “Dr. Cue”®, and Steve Lillis; song and music presentations by Mike Massey and Steve Geller; witness stories by Robin
Dodson and Tom “Dr. Cue”® Rossman, plus the appeal of Jeff Balantyne and Steve Lillis in this special ministry…reaching the billiard industry and more with the “good news” of Jesus Christ. The vision of RACK (Recreational Ambassador to Christ’s Kingdom), with proper stewardship of our sport, etc. was a focus here…with a concept of a GTS RACK Power Team traveling the country…slowly becoming a reality.
As day 1 began there was an excitement among everyone to see the special twists and turns/dips and dives of “artistic pool”. The official table judge, Jerry Smith, was ready to oversee each cue movement and shot setup/attempt. A gridding of the table would help to assure accuracy in this area and resultant scores, if successfully done. Mr. Tony Anthony would be in charge of camera duty, in case of a review being needed for any shot/challenge result. In addition, if anyone desired a video collectable of this event, it would eventually be available. Judy Malm was in control of the “big scoreboard” for player and audience observation, while Marty “Ms. Cue” Rossman was backup scorekeeper and in charge of product/program sales…as an addition to the overall prize fund.
Jeff Balantyne was at the GTS Ministries table handing out Bibles and other literature to anyone with a special need in their life.
Two groups by random draw began the competitive battle, with Mannino, Gerni, Massey, and Aylesworth in the 1st group and Malm, Rossman, and Geller in the 2nd. The first round of 2 disciplines (Trick and/or Fancy Shots, plus Prop, Novelty, and Special Arts) created quite a stir among the players. Malm surged into the lead with 28 out of a possible 30 points in the Trick and/or Fancy Shot discipline, with Massey and Rossman at 21 each. This newcomer to “artistic pool” had surprised each veteran, and each player knew their focus must be at its highest level. Continuing his onslaught of scoring success, Malm racked up an amazing 29 points out of 36 possible in the Prop, Novelty, and Special Arts discipline, giving him a champion medallion in the 1st 2 artforms. Massey settled into 2nd place with an additional 27 points in the 2nd discipline, but only 2 points ahead of Rossman, who made 5 of the 7 Wing Shots for a 9 point tally in this challenge. After Round 1 action, the scored stood as follows: Malm – 57 points, Massey – 48 points, Rossman – 46 points, Mannino – 35 points, with Gerni, Geller, and Aylesworth getting off to a “shaky” start, but close behind.
The evening of the 1st day revealed Follow and Draw discipline skills for each player and would prove to everyone how exciting “artistic pool” can be. When the “smoke” had cleared, Massey had made a comeback to register a tie with Malm in the total score at 76 points. Mannino surged forward to tie Rossman at 67, while each of the remaining players made impressive moves, as witnessed by Geller winning the Draw discipline with 21 out of 31 possible points and Aylesworth garnering a champion position in the Follow discipline with 17 out of 28. Gerni was making his move and appeared to be ready for a spirited drive in Day 2.
Day 2 (Saturday) brought players into “full speed ahead” mode. Massey increased his lead to 15 points over Rossman after Round 3, which included the Bank/Kick and Stroke disciplines. Malm settled into a 3rd place position, only 6 points behind Rossman and a slim 2 point margin over Mannino. The “Sarge” (Aylesworth) started to “march” forward with a tremendous comeback, and acquired his second champion medallion in the Bank/Kick discipline with 27 out of 29 possible points. Geller was only 4 points behind him, displaying all the moves of a skilled “artistic pool” cueist. Gerni won his first discipline award in the Stroke category (14 out of 31 possible points), and still had a chance to win it all with 2 disciplines remaining.
The evening session would follow the normal format of having all the competitors in the arena at the same time, exchanging the “who goes first” honor from shot to shot. Round 4 (Jump and Masse disciplines) would once again create an “on the edge of your seat” viewing by all in attendance. Rossman finally won a champion medallion with 22 out of 29 points in the Jump discipline, and moved to within 8 points of Massey…still in 1st place. Mannino and Malm were tied at 102 points, which placed both of them 18 points behind Rossman.
The “Sarge” continued his strong showing…only 6 points behind the tied duo.
As the Masse discipline started, no one could have imagined what was about to unfold. Massey missed the first masse. This time honored challenge displayed one ball passing another going the length of the table…with both balls disappearing in the corner pocket. Rossman made this shot on his 2nd attempt, so he now was only 1 point behind Massey. Mannino made it on the 1st attempt, so he gained another point to Rossman. Malm and Aylesworth missed, but Geller and Gerni both made it. It appeared that Massey and Rossman would battle to the end, but appearance is not everything in “artistic pool”. Rossman missed the next 2 masses, which are 2 of his favorites, putting him in position to be overcome by Mannino. Massey made masse #2 and #3, sealing a victory for him in this Qualifier.
Mannino made masse #2 and Malm missed it, to place a distance between them in scoring positions. Mannino cut into the 17 point lead by Rossman over him by making the 2nd masse and now only 10 points behind “Dr. Cue”®. Masse #3 saw the unbelievable happening. A reverse masse shot was made by Massey, Gerni, Aylesworth, and most importantly, Mannino…on the 1st attempt. This placed him only 1 point behind Rossman with 1 shot remaining. If Mannino made the last masse and Rossman missed it, Mannino would be headed for Germany. Mannino had to go first by the draw. This masse displays a ball by the side pocket and the cue ball 2 diamond segments from it along the side cushion (2 ball’s maximum distance from it). The cue ball must be shot past the side pocket ball completely, and then spin back to make the ball. On Mannino’s first attempt, the cue ball went past the ball, but didn’t come back. The second attempt saw the cue ball smashing into the object ball too early. The last attempt was “grand”. The cue ball moved forward, and the object ball disappeared. The table judge had to make a close call, but the cue ball did not fulfill the requirement of going completely past the object ball. It missed by slightly more than an inch. The “hot seat” that Rossman occupied slowly cooled off, as he now had barely edged out Mannino for 2nd. Rossman’s final attempt at this monster masse also failed. To supplement the glitter of an already shining event and final shot, Aylesworth and Malm both made this final challenge, creating a huge audience response. Of special note is Mannino winning the Masse discipline with 24 out of 35 possible points. In addition, Aylesworth had scored an incredible 81 points in the final 2 rounds (Day 2). A Day 1 performance like this would surely have provided him with a Qualifier victory.
The final positions of finish were as follows: 1st – Mike Massey (145 points), 2nd – Rossman (127 points), 3rd – Mannino (126 points), 4th – Aylesworth (114 points), 5th – Malm (111 points), 6th – Geller (101 points), and 7th – Gerni (87 points). Maximum potential score was 249 points. Prize funds/awards were as follows: 1st -- $1381.80, champion acrylic award, qualifying berth in world tournament in Germany for 2002, plus listing in BCA Rules and Records Book; 2nd -- $970.20, runner-up acrylic award, qualifying berth in Germany world event, and BCA Rules and Records Book listing; 3rd -- $588.00. Product sales totaled $540.00. Entries totaled $1400.00. “Dr. Cue” Promotions added $1000.00 to prize fund, supplied acrylic awards for 1st and 2nd, plus medallions/ribbons for discipline champions, and paid the sanction fee for BCA documentation. A special sportsmanship award supplied by Mike Massey was given to Paul Gerni…by vote of his fellow players.
Special thanks to GTS Ministries, Steve Lillis, Jeff Ballantyne, Judy Malm, Marty “Ms. Cue” Rossman, Tony Anthony, Hard Times Billiards/Ken Thomason, Jay Helfert, Jerry Smith, Mike Massey, Accu-Stats Video Productions, Meucci Originals, and the many other individuals that contributed to the Qualifier event and the GTS Ministries programming. And a “super” thank you to each audience member who viewed and responded to the skill employment of each player. May each of you reading this article get the opportunity to someday see this unique and exciting form of cuesport activity. And for those so inclined, may you get the chance to participate in the challenging artform called “artistic pool”.
There is no doubt that each competitor in this event will someday see and take residence on the “world” stage of “artistic pool”. Each has a special talent and a competitive spirit seldom seen. The bonding of each player, one to another, also provides a much needed “breath of freshness” to the billiards industry.

See the Results, Statistics, Prize Funds, et cetera...