BCA NORTH AMERICAN "ARTISTIC POOL" CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 World Qualifier (Professional Skill Level)

In an absolutely breathtaking finish Tom "Dr. Cue"® Rossman missed three attempts at the final masse shot to enable 2001 World Artistic Pool Champion Charles Darling to hold on to become the new BCA North American Artistic Pool Champion. Both Charles Darling and Tom "Dr. Cue"® Rossman will go on to compete in the 2003 WPA World Artistic Pool Championship next summer in Europe. Mike Massey will be on hand there to defend his World Title. Mike wrestled the World Title back from Charles Darling this past year in Willingen, Germany. Tom "Dr. Cue"® Rossman took second in that event as well. The current World Artistic Pool rankings have Mike
Massey as number one in the World with Charles and Tom two and three. All that can change in a hurry as these great competitors continue to go head to head with each other and the many other champions from around the World.

The BCA North American Artistic Pool action took place on the weekend of October 5th and 6th, 2002 at HIPPOS, The House of Billiards in Utica, NY. Host and owner Victor Conte rolled out the red carpet as bleachers were installed with tables recovered and all the World Artistic Pool equipment specifications met. Thanks Victor! Victor is also the Treasurer of WPA World Artistic Pool and is planning to develope a National Tour featuring the stars of Artistic Pool.

This was the 4th annual BCA sectioned North American Artistic Pool Championship. Past champions include Mike Massey in 2000 and 2002 and Tom "Dr. Cue"® Rossman in 2001. Congratulations to Charles Darling on his first North American Title which he will hold for 2003. The tournament is not only a championship event but also is a qualifier for the 2003 World Artistic Pool Championship scheduled to take place in Europe next summer. The top two finishers Mr.Darling and Mr. Rossman will join champions from four other billiard federations around the World to compete for the World Title. Mr. Massey has already qualified by virtue of being the current 2002 World Champion.

The action was fast and furious as the finest Artistic Pool players from around North America competed in the eight artistic pool disciplines for overall point standings and individual discipline medals. After round two Charles Darling held a slim seven point 1st place lead 95 to 88 over California upstart Rick Maim Only a shot (81 total points) behind them was Steve Geller the 1979 and 1980 BCA National Trick Shot Champion from Minot, North Dakota and Nick Mannino from Shippensburg, Pennsylvania with 78 points. Nick was 5th in World Championship last year and is an amazing competitor. Rounds one and two included the first four disciplines which was the trick and fancy shots, prop and novelty shots, draw shots, and follow shots.

Round three included the bank/kick shots and the stroke shots and saw the total point standings change dramatically. Tom "Dr. Cue"® Rossman leaped out of the pack all the way to second place about three shots off the pace set again by Charles Darling 146 to 115 total points. Right behind Dr. Cue® was Rick Maim at 113 total points, and Steve Geller with 109 total points. Round four with the jump shots and the masse shots was incredible. Seemingly out of nowhere came
Nick Mannino who executed seven straight shots. There are four shots in each discipline. Newcomer Andy Segal and Mr. Rossman were keeping pace as Charles Darling began to let the pressure show.

With the final masse shot the entire tournament hung in the balance, the two qualified spots for the World Championship and four places of prize money plus the masse discipline medal. Each player in round robin format had three attempts to execute that final shot. Players went in order for this last round in round robin format which was based on the lowest to the highest point totals. Therefore newcomer and gentleman Rick Hawkinson from Portage, Indiana went first in the final round. Mark Dimick from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma a two time National Amateur Artistic Pool Champion went second, Professional Trick Shot Artist Andy Segal from Huntington, New York went third, with Nick Mannino, Steve Geller, Rick Maim, Tom "Dr. Cue"® Rossman all next, followed by Charles Darling the point leader and pace setter last.

Rotating the order on every shot led to Mr. Darling going first on that last masse shot #4. He missed on all three attempts and that set the stage for an incredible finish. Masse shot #.4 is called the Yo-yo. The cue ball must go up past the side pocket on a masse stroke and pass an object ball hanging in that side pocket and than reverse direction knocking the object ball in that
side pocket. Mr. Hawkinson and Mr. Dimick followed and also missed their attempts, but Mr. Segal scored which enabled him to win the masse medal and finish in the cash at forth place. Mr. Mannino now had a chance to catch Mr. Rossman in second place and just missed. He actually made the shot but on the video instant reply it showed that the ball did not fully pass the side
pocket and object ball. Had that shot went Mr. Mannino would have won the masse medal, the trip to Europe, and 2nd place prize money. We have not heard the last of Nick Mannino as he is a true professional and tremendous competitor.
After Nick Mannino both Mr. Geller and Mr. Maim missed their attempts, which set the stage once again for Torn "Dr. Cue"® Rossman. All Mr. Rossman had to do was make one of those three extremely difficult attempts to win the Championship. He missed and Charles Darling seemed as if he fell out of his chair with relief on Dr. Cue's final attempt.

Congratulations to our new BCA North American Artistic Pool Champion Charles Darling. Charles set the pace for the entire tournament and did hang on with some clutch shots of his own to secure the title. Charles received a beautiful crystal trophy donated and presented by host Victor Conte and Tournament Director Steve Lillis with first prize money of $1,100 and a paid entry into the 2003 WPA World Artistic Pool Championship which includes additional prize money for participating. Tom "Dr. Cue"® Rossman received a second place trophy and $825 with paid entry into 2003 WPA World Artistic Pool Championship which icludes additional prize money for participating as well. Third place money $550 went to Nick Mannino with forth place $275 to Andy Segal.

During the event Gospel Trick Shot Ministries, Inc and the RACK Power Team delighted the crowd with an amazing display of pool expertise which included a heavenly message. Dr. Cue® did his amazing wing shot routine and his "deception" trick shots. Steve Lillis did some of his favorite Gospel Trick Shots which included the new "911" shot. Steve Geller did a fantastic '13ank off the tray into every pocket" routine, and Charles "Spitball Charlie" Darling did his incredible "spit ball bank shots" around the pool table. GTS Comedian and MC Tony Anthony got some good laughs as wall. GTS/RACK will be featured at many major billiard events next year with newcomer Janette "The Black Widow" Lee and standbys Steve Lillis, Tom "Dr. Cue"® Rossman, Mike Massey, Robin Dodson, BCA Hall of Famers Loree Jon Jones and Jim Rempe, Tommy Kennedy, and Steve Geller. Check out the GTS Website at www.gospeltrickshot.org for more information.

Sponsors of the BCA North American Artistic Pool Championship included our host Victor Conte of HIPPOS, The House of Billiards, Dr. Cue® Promotions, owned by Tom "Dr.Cue"® and Marty "Ms.Cue" Rossman who was our official scorekeeper among other things, and Gospel Trick Shot Ministries, Inc founded by GTS President Steve Lillis, and Accu-Stats Video Productions owned by Mr. Pat Fleming. We would also like to thank Mr. John Lewis of the BCA who is the liason for World Artistic Pool to the WPA, the World governing body of Pool. The BCA sentioned the event
and has been instrumental in promoting the "Artistic Crusade."

We would also like to thank our table judge Bill Haley, owner of Comet Billiards in Parsippany, NJ, which was picked by Billiards Digest as one of the top 10 billiard rooms in the World, along with Tony Anthony of GTS Ministries on the video cameras, and Victor Conte Jr. on the digital projector, along with Rick and Judy Malm who are the World Artistic Technical Advisors. Rick has developed an electronic artistic pool scoresheet and an interactive CD which will be on the market soon demonstrating all the great Artistic Pool shots in the World Artistic Pool Program. This project will have a wealth of Artistic Pool information and instructions.

Stay tuned as the Worldwide "Artistic Crusade" moves on with our ranked artistic players competing in such great productions like ESPN's Trick Shot Magic and the WPA World Artistic Pool Championships.

Final Standings, Discipline Medal Winners and Awards:

1) Charles Darling, 168 total points, $1,i00, Crystal Trophy, Qualified for 2003 WPA World Championship, Bank/Kick Shots and Stroke Shots medals.
2) Tom Rossman, 162 total points, $825, Crystal Trophy, and Qualified for 2003 WPA World Championship.
3) Nick Mannino, 153 total points, $550, Trick and Fancy Shots medal.
4) Andy Segal, 145 total points, $275, Draw Shots and Masse Shots medals.
5) Steve Geller, 143 total points, Follow Shots Sportsman Award for champion skills and professional demeaner.
6) Mark Dimick, 137 total points, Prop/Novelty/Special Arts Shots and Jump Shots medals.
7) Rick Malm, 134 total points, Follow Shots medal.
8) Rick Hawkinson, 62 total points, Sportsmanship Award Medal.

Submitted by Steve Lillis, WPA World Artistic Pool Committee Chairman and World Tournament Director.

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