By Oliver Chisenga
ZAMBIA Pool Union media director Kirby Musonda has been selected to sit on the World Artistic Blackball Committee.
Musonda, a former secretary general for the Copperbelt Pool League is among the seven-member committee of chaired by Brian Pauley who is also coordinator of Artistic Pool Contacts.
According to a communique from the World Artistic Blackball general committee, Musonda who is both a player and administrator will bring to the table his experience in the local league and internationally.
“On behalf of the Artistic Blackball General Committee, I want to welcome ‘Elijah’ (Kirby) to this blessed project! Welcome, Elijah,” read the correspondence.
Musonda joins international players and administrators like Wayne Parker the committee co-chairman, Hendry Erasmus, Cerebro 360 owner and promoter in Cue Sports, and Michael Hewitt the Amateur and Junior Artistic Blackball development focus.
Others on the committee include Jamie Moody with 10 plus years as veteran of Artistic Pool and Jason Lynch who also over 10 years experience.
Artistic pool is more than just trick shots; it is testing a player in all skills involved in pool.
Artistic pool is broken down into eight disciplines namely, Trick and Fancy, Special Arts, Draw, Follow, Bank/Kick, Stroke, Jump and Masse.
There are five shots in each discipline with increasing point value that has been determined by their degree of difficulty.
The point values are 6,7,8,9, and 10 with the six-point shots being the easier shots and the 10-point shots be the more difficult shots.
There are three variations to each shot, so people can choose which shot works better for them.
Shot selection is a big key in scoring high in these events.
The maximum score one can achieve in each discipline is 40.
The individuals who score the highest in each discipline are awarded medals for the discipline winner.
To be a good artistic pool player, one needs to have all pool skills.
From the pin point accuracy of set of shots (Trick and Fancy) to the power stroke shots, artistic pool will test even the best pool players.
Artistic pool is also about entertaining the fans watching events as well as raising money for local charities through raffles and a new speed pool event.
Starting with the 2015 Masters Artistic Pool Championship, a side speed pool tournament was added to get the fans involved with the pro-artistic pool players as well as a fundraiser for a local charity.
The USA will be receiving their first ever 8-ball table so that they can compete favourably on the 8-ball tables, and in South Africa already the league is being put in place.
