The World Trick Shot Championships is a worldwide championship of trick shot pool. It was held on snooker tables for the first time in 1991. Matchroom Sport organized it. The competition was organized by Matchroom Sports. The 2005 competition took place at Celtic Manor.
Many international professional billiards player began to perform trick shots during the 1970s. 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 form of pool that is a sanctioned sport by the World Pool-Billiard Association. Aside from playing in tournaments, trick shot artists also teach others the sport.
Mike Massey was a famous trick shot artist in the world since the late 70s. He has been a part of many games with celebrities such as Jason Gedrick, Paul Sorvino and others. Massey was also an instructor and fundraiser for the sport. His performances at Wentworth's Waste Management Pheonix Open as well as the Volvo PGA At Wentworth has earned him a high level of visibility.
Mike Massey has been teaching many professionals in the sport, including Scott Baiin, Dean Cain, and James Tolkan. He has won numerous professional international competitions and was a member the Team U.S.A. that won the 2002 trick shot world championship. This team also performed in Abu Dhabi at the HSBC Championships and Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.
Jim Sommer, another great trick-shot artist. He has participated in numerous international Trick-shot turning events, and has traveled to the USA to compete at the US Nationals. He was the winner of the US Nationals Artistic Pool Championship.
The World Trick Shot Artists Association (WTSAA) is an organization of trick shot artists from all over the world. Paul Gerni, a world champion in trick shot, organizes the association. There are 160 tricks in the WTSAA book. Some of these tricks include: the machine gun shot; the "kick", shot; and the quick fire shot. Other trick shots include: the "pro", the "extreme" and the "proper" shots.
Tim "The Dragon", Chin (2022 US Nationals Artistic Pool Champion), won the prestigious title defeating Jason Lynch (The Michigan Kid) in the finals. Both Lynch as well as Chin are WPA World Ranked. Lynch is still in school at Ohio State, but Chin is a more experienced professional.
The next Trick Shot Magic event will be held on October 9-10. Eight international stars will compete in this competition. They will compete to win a purse of $40,000. Each player will have six to ten choices. 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.
For many years, the best trick shot artist in the world was Geoff McIlroy. He became inspired to play trick shots after watching Noel Hunt. He has been on ladders, met people he didn't expect to meet and has fallen off them all but he has not stopped trying.