Entertained By The Trick Shot Masters
By Jason Thomas

Bandar Seri Begawan - Renowned trick shot exponents from the United States, Bruce "The Big Guy" Barthelette and Tom "Dr Cue" Rossman, enthralled hundreds of fans at the Brunei Trick Shot Masters 2006 yesterday morning, at a packed Sutra Hall, Rizqun International Hotel.

Present at the event, which was organised for the second year, was His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, who is an avid pool player. The Royal Highness also competed in last month's World Pool Championship 2006 in Manila.

Playing eight rounds, both contestants - whose list of acheivements read like a directory - were awarded points if they could make the shot after two tries. Rossman, widely regarded as the founding father of the modern day artistic pool movement, won 8-3 against Barthelette, who is ranked eighth in the world.

After the competition, the Americans performed a variety of tricks to entertain the audience.

For one trick shot, Rossman asked a member of the audience to lend him his shoe. This was to aid Dr Cue's jump shot - and the crowds were left speechless as the ball flew nearly eight feet from the table to land in the shoe on the floor.

Talking enthusiastically to the crowds and getting them involved in the various trick shots, both players' passion for the sport was clearly evident.

Both Barthelette and Rossman are not just trick shot masters, they can make people laugh too. The two entertained the crowds with their banter and jokes.

In fact, Rossman said he toured the world because he enjoyed making people laugh. "The primary reason I do these shows is because I want to make people laugh," said a jovial Rossman after the match.

"I love this so much I won't stop until I fall over on the pool table," he said with a grin.

"I really want to encourage the youth and amateurs because they are our future," said the 57-year-old Rossman, who has been touring and teaching pool for 40 years. Training six to eight hours daily in preparation for tournaments, his intensive train ing has won him numerous awards, and he has more than 21 Artistic Pool Discipline Titles, with wins in all eight categories.

Saying that one of his most memorable moments was winning the 2002 ESPN Trick Shot Magic Championship, he felt that the hardest trick shot was the one he was about to perform at any given moment.

He also said that Brunei was the most exotic and memorable country he had toured, adding that he decided to visit the country mainly because he wanted to meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, whom he knows is a keen pool player.

The duo were scheduled to be joined by Mike Massey, another world class trick shot player, but he missed a connecting flight.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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