PELINGA BATTLES TO VICTORY AT US OPEN “ARTISTIC POOL”

Sometimes a less than stellar beginning in competition will inspire certain players to reach deep within for the focus and execution skills necessary to win the “big one”. In addition, a player that consistently finishes in the top 2 or 3 positions of international championships is due to wear the “crown of victory” eventually. Stefano Pelinga of Italy has played in “artistic pool” events since 2000 under the WPA and ESPN umbrellas. He has moved from one competitive arena to another in search of several illusive titles, but seems to maintain his primary foundation in Italy as their official Trick Shot Champion. He also adorns the warming lights of the ESPN Trick Shot Magic event, having finished runner-up to Mike Massey in 2001 and Tom “Dr. Cue”® Rossman in 2002.
All of that changed on October 11 and 12, 2003 at Accu Billiards in New Bedford, MA. The “crusade” of “artistic pool” took a gigantic leap forward with its inaugural US Open Championship, as 20 players from 3 continents and 16 states/provinces and/or countries cascaded through the open doors of “sport and show”. The “who’s who” list of “artistic pool” superstars was given a “red carpet” treatment by the Mike Xiarhos family billiard center. Nicknames were required of each player to entice spectator attachment to a favorite and in following each 2 player grouping, as they traveled down the 8-discipline/40 shot-challenge golf course style format together.
The Master (Italy)…Tennessee Tarzan (UT)…Quick Nick (Quebec)…The Magic Man (NY)…Lucky Luke (Poland)…South American King (Argentina)…The Gladiator (Germany)…Spitball Charlie and The Specialist (MO)…The Singer (ND)…Dr. Cue and The Barber (IN)…Just Rick (AZ)…The Great and The Professor (Russia)…Sarge (WA)…The Big Guy (MA)…Leapin Lillis and The Waterboy (NJ)…Jim The Gem (CT). These “characters” of professional image, professional demeanor, and professional skills would be challenged by a cornucopia of shots/challenges, each monikered with spicy, humorous, and addictive titles, presented in an assortment of unique cue movements from level plane smoothness to vertical magnetism.
Dipsy/Doodle…Hustler Bank, with Dressing…Just Winging It…Circular Draw… Machine Gun…Resistance Draw…Snap/Crackle/Pop/Jump/Nip/Draw…Trapped and Corner Hooked…Passing Lane…Reverse Around the Wall…Yo-Yo Masse…The Big U. The dips and dives/twists and turns of these names would challenge the “best of the best”. Four rounds of competition (2 on day one and 2 on day two) would allow each player to take 3 attempts at each challenge or score via a special points system. Degrees of difficulty on the 3 attempt challenges range from 5 to 11, with a first attempt make earning maximum points, 2nd attempt -- one point less than maximum, and 3rd attempt – two points less than maximum.
Following is a recap of player scores in a shortened “leader board” presentation of sorts. The top 4 players are listed in order of points earned cumulatively after each discipline is finished. These “pocket scores” provide you with the changing player positions, as each “artistic pool” skill technique comes to completion. In addition, some highlights of “artistic action and beauty” are given along the way…with specific mention of the “title” champion for each discipline.

ARTISTIC “POCKET” SCORES

Discipline 1: Trick and/or Fancy Shots (40 points possible):

1) Nick Nikolaidis (Quebec) – 38 pts. 3) Ralph Eckert (Germany) – 36 pts.
2) Steve Geller (ND) – 38 pts. 4) Charles Darling (MO) – 36 pts.

Highlights: Nikolaidis, a newcomer to “artistic pool” competition, alerts the field that he has come to play, as he garners the 1st of 8 discipline “titles” at stake. Geller scores the same number of points, but the rules for ties are implemented, in which the player that makes more 1st attempts will be judged the winner of a respective discipline. Stefano Pelinga struggles in 10th place, after missing the first shot, but his determined spirit shows that he has just begun to fight.

Discipline 2: Prop/Novelty/Special Arts (48 points possible):

1) Ralph Eckert (Germany) – 69 pts. . 3) Nick Nikolaidis (Quebec) – 62 pts.
2) Steve Geller (ND) – 65 pts. 4) Jamison Neu (MO) – 59 pts.

Highlights: A determined Eckert wins this discipline “title” with 33 points and takes over the lead. Neu,
a Charles Darling student and 1st time competitor in “artistic pool”, moves into 4th place with consistency and a charismatic style. Eckert, Darling, and Pelinga bring the crowd to their feet as each makes the difficult 5th challenge, in which 3 cue balls must be struck within 4 seconds of each other…with the 1st making a 5 cushion “kick”, the 2nd making a 4 cushion “kick”, and the last making a 3 cushion “kick”. Pelinga’s accomplishment moves him into 9th place.

Discipline 3: Draw Shots (42 points possible):

Steve Geller (ND) – 94 pts. 3) Nick Nikolaidis (Quebec) – 93 pts.
2) Stefano Pelinga (Italy) – 94 pts 4) Ralph Eckert (Germany) – 86 pts.

Highlights: Geller maintains a consistent pace as he moves into 1st place, making his best showing ever in the growing “crusade” of “artistic pool” events. Pelinga makes a spectacular statement, as he succeeds at all 5 challenges, including the 3 most difficult ones rated 9 to 11 on the 1st attempt. This exhibition of shooting expertise proves a US Open discipline “title” for him with 40 points, as he catapults all the way from 9th to 2nd place.

Discipline 4: Follow Shots (37 points possible):

1) Stefano Pelinga (Italy) – 121 pts. 3) Charles Darling (MO) – 114 pts.
2) Nick Nikolaidis (Quebec) – 118 pts. 4) Steve Geller (ND) – 113 pts.

Highlights: Darling demonstrates his 2001 WPA World Champion skills as he posts 34 big points to win the discipline “title” and moves into 3rd place. Pelinga locks onto first, Nikolaidis stays strong in second, Geller remains a heartbeat away, and a brave group of challengers from the balance of the field start to move upward in the race for gold.

Discipline 5: Bank/Kick Shots (39 points possible):

Nick Nikolaidis (Quebec) – 143 pts. 3) Sebastian Giumelli (Argentina) – 136 pts.
2) Mike Massey (UT) – 138 pts. 4) Eckert (Germany) – 135 pts.

Highlights: South American superstar Giumelli and three times WPA World Champion Massey make an assault on the top positions with scores of 36 points and 35 points, respectively. Giumelli wins the discipline “title” honors, Massey settles into second, and Eckert moves to 4th, as Pelinga falls to 5th, after missing 4 of the 5 challenges in this demanding category. Nikolaidis moves back into 1st place with focus and grace.

Discipline 6: Stroke Shots (41 points possible):

1) Nick Nikolaidis (Quebec) – 163 pts. 3) Stefano Pelinga (Italy) – 153 pts.
2) Mike Massey (UT) – 159 pts. 4) Charles Darling (MO) – 151 pts.

Highlights: Each player in the field struggles with this discipline as the rainy weather of the second day of competition creates short angles and slow playing conditions. No one could seem to adjust to any type of exacting standard; however, Darling was able to walk away with the discipline “title” victory with 23 points. Darling and Pelinga regain a spot in the top 4 positions as the field scores draw closer together.

Discipline 7: Jump Shots (40 points possible):

Stefano Pelinga (Italy) – 176 pts. 3) Lucasz Szywala (Poland) – 173 pts.
2) Nick Nikolaidis (Quebec) – 174 pts. 4) Mike Massey (UT) – 171 pts.

Highlights: Rossman appears to have this discipline won, after making the 1st 4 shots. That all changes when Szywala, the young pool playing champion from Poland, makes the extremely difficult 5th challenge. This test of skillful execution earns “Lucky Luke” the discipline “title” with a score of 32 points and moves him into 3rd place. Pelinga is able to garner enough points to move back into first, but an additional ten players are mathematically poised for the overall championship title

Discipline 8: Masse Shots (46 points possible):

Stefano Pelinga (Italy) – 202 pts. 3) Nick Nikolaidis (Quebec) – 189 pts.
2) Mike Massey (UT) – 194 pts. 4) Andy Segal (NY) – 181 pts.

Highlights: In all competitions since 2000, this dynamic and exciting cue technique echoes many memories of victory and defeat based on one final vertical stroke. This event would be no different. After the 1st two shots Massey overtakes Szywala, but Pelinga and Nikolaidis maintain their respective positions. Pelinga and Nikolaidis miss the 3rd and 4th masse, allowing Massey to move into 1st place, when he makes the 3rd masse, but misses the 4th. Pelinga has one final chance to take over the lead, but he must make the most difficult masse in the program. This 90 degree minimum curve “monster masse” requires the cue ball to go around a piece of chalk and travel down the entire length of the table to an awaiting object ball near a corner pocket. Pelinga makes a confident and beautiful execution of this challenge on his second attempt, under extreme pressure, knowing that Massey was already ahead on points from the prior shot scores. Pelinga had reached the 200-point mark of excellence and placed Massey in a very demanding and pressure packed situation. As Massey stepped to the table, everyone could feel the tension, and yet, excitement in the air. 1…2…3 – miss…miss…miss! Stefano Pelinga had battled his way to victory in a “roller coaster” ride of shot attempt frustrations and emotional highs. Going out in style, Pelinga won not only the masse discipline “title”, but also earned the prestigious overall “title” of 2003 US Open “Artistic Pool” Champion – a “victory” well deserved!!!

Special Note: Sportsmanship award presented to Tom “Dr. Cue”® Rossman (By vote of players)

One other point of competitive accomplishment should be noted at this time. Andy Segal was in 11th place before the jump discipline, and moved all the way to 4th place when the smoke had cleared. This display of competitive spirit and drive is a recurring characteristic of the players of “artistic pool” as a whole. Congratulations to each player listed below for completing this “artistic pool” professional challenge and exhibiting the image and demeanor of a champion…one and all!

US OPEN CAST OF “ARTISTIC” POOLPLAYERS

Canada: Nick Nikolaidis (Quebec)

South America: Sebastian Giumelli (Argentina)

Europe: Stefano Pelinga (Italy), Lukasz Szywala (Poland), Ralph Eckert (Germany), Michael Mossin (Russia), Arkadiy Loshakov (Russia)

United States: Mike Massey (UT), Andy Segal (NY), Charles Darling (MO), Steve Geller (ND), Tom Rossman (IN), Richard Malm (AZ), Jamison Neu (MO), Ken Aylesworth (WA), Rick Hawkinson (IN), Steve Lillis (NJ), Bruce Barthelette (MA), Chris Laurino (NJ), Jim Garabedian (CT)

Special thanks to the Mike Xiarhos family of Accu Billiards, the players, the fans, event staff, sponsors, and GTS Ministries for the wonderful show before the awards ceremony.

For complete event results/stats/payouts go to www.drcuepromotions.com and click the red ball on the home page (The “Artistic Pocket” Newsletter). Scroll down the page to the 2003 US Open “Artistic Pool” Championship. You may also visit www.artisticpool.org for updates and other information on the “crusade” of “artistic pool” worldwide.


Article Submitted By, Tom “Dr. Cue”® Rossman, President
WPA Artistic Pool Division