Stefano Pelinga

Stefano Pelinga (born May 1964)[3] is an Italian professional pool (pocket billiards) player from Rome.[4][5] He is best known as a multi-year international artistic pool champion, as both an individual and team captain. He has also served as an officer for the Polizia di Stato (Italy's national police) for 27 years,[6] retiring from police work in 2011, then moving to Las Vegas, Nevada to play pool full-time.[1][7] Pelinga has served as a board member of the International Artistic Poolplayers Association (IAPA).[8] He was the featured player on the cover of the May 2010 issue of Billiards Digest magazine, which named him one of the world's best trick shot artists.[9] He has been nicknamed "Mr. Trick Shots" and "Il Maestro" ("The Master").[1][2] Aside from competition, Pelinga performs exhibitions, organizes competitions and raises funds for a variety of charitable organizations with his personal appearances.[6] He was invited to tour in the USA with Paul Gerni, Norway's Lars Riiber, and Japan's Yoshikazu Kimura, and nominated by Paul Gerni for a spot on ESPN's Trick Shot Magic, where he has been featured for over ten years. He won two Trick Shot Magic events, in 2005 and 2007, after a few second places.

Stefano Pelinga
Stefano Pelinga
BornMay 1964
Rome, Italy
Other namesMr. Trick Shots[1]
Il Maestro (The Master)[1][2]
Years active1976–present
Websitehttp://StefanoPelinga.com

In addition to having won several international titles, Pelinga has also produced a series of instructional videos, and he was appointed on January 31, 2000, as official instructor of cue sports by the Italian Federation of Billiard Sports (FIBiS) and the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).[2] He was also awarded the honorary title of Professor of Sport Games by the University of Kharkov (Ukraine).[2]

Pelinga has a large repertoire of trick shots and is able to execute over 1,000 unique and "fancy" shots. He is recognized as one of the greatest trick shot champions in the history of the sport,[9] and has earned a spot in ESPN's Trick Shot Magic Hall of Fame. In 2012, Pelinga was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.[1][7]

Pelinga is represented by (and in turn represents, as co-founder and Western & International Executive Manager) the booking agent Billiards Superstars Promotions, who also represent Paul Gerni, Allison Fisher, Mike Massey, Ewa Laurance and other top pool pros.[10]

Early life

Pelinga began to play pool at age 12, drawing inspiration from his favorite singer and actor, Dean Martin, whom he emulates in various parts of his life. He has also stated and exhibited his Dean Martin memorabilia collection, which includes "every applicable book and record album, plus publicity photos, newspaper and magazine clippings, novelty statuettes, comic books, and even a copy of Dino's death certificate."[5] He also cites Paul Gerni, Mike Massey and Yoshikazu Kimura as influences.[2] While he was a teenager, he "became a black belt in Kung Fu and then...switched to boxing...for several years."[11] During his years in university, he focused his studies on foreign languages, specifically English.[5]

Pelinga began serving as a police officer in the beginning of 1985. He became a member of the Polizia di Stato (Italian Federal Police) for the Calabria region after six months of police training. A part of the Reparto volanti group, he continued to serve even while pursuing his billiards career until 2011, when he retired from police work with pension.[3][5]

Pro pool career

Pelinga won several national titles in Italy in straight pool and nine-ball throughout the late 1970s and 1980s and began traveling around Italy giving exhibitions under the sponsorship of Longoni Cues.[3] In 1990, he asked Longoni if he would be allowed to meet Paul Gerni on his arrival at the airport in Rome, and that was their first meeting, Gerni's exhibition and TV documentary, and personal training from Gerni during that tour first got Pelinga interested in artistic pool, the formalized practice of trick shots. After speaking with Gerni and acting as his translator, Pelinga explained his interest in learning to become a professional trick shot artist. Gerni, in response, had Pelinga accompany him on a tour throughout the United States as a pseudo-apprenticeship.[5] In 2003, he won the U.S. Open of Artistic Pool in New Bedford, Massachusetts, followed by another major title, the EPBF European Artistic Pool Championship in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2004. In 2005 and 2007, Pelinga won the prestigious ESPN Trick Shot Magic title.

In 2006, he competed in the first annual trans-Atlantic World Cup of Trick Shots, as captain of Team Europe,[12] who lost to Team USA that year; his team won in 2007.[9][13] In 2008, Pelinga competed in the second annual Showdown in Seoul, playing against World Three-cushion Billiards Champion from Turkey, Semih Saygıner in both artistic pool and artistic billiards.[14] On October 29, 2009, he was a part of the fourth World Cup of Trick Shots on Team Europe, in which he and his team lost to their American counterparts.[15][16] His European team won again in 2010 and 2011.[17]

He organized a "World Legends of Artistic Pool" event"[3] in Kiev in 2006 to showcase trick shots,[2] with the participation of the greatest contemporary trick shot champions.

On November 17, 2012, Pelinga was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (NIASHF), based in Chicago, Illinois, becoming the second pool player in the history of the organization to be inducted, after Willie Mosconi.[1][7]

Titles and achievements
  • 2012 Inductee, National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame[7]
  • 2011 ESPN World Cup of Trick Shots Champions, Team Europe (Captain)
  • 2010 ESPN World Cup of Trick Shots Champions, Team Europe (Captain)[17]
  • 2009 ESPN World Cup of Trick Shots Runners-up, Team Europe (Captain)[15]
  • 2007 ESPN World Cup of Trick Shots Champions, Team Europe (Captain)[9][13]
  • 2007 ESPN Trick Shot Magic Champion[4][18][19]
  • 2005 ESPN Trick Shot Magic Champion[4][12][16][19][20]
  • 2004 European Artistic Pool Champion[16]
  • 2003 U.S. Open Champion, Trick Shot Division[5]
  • 2003 WPA World Artistic Pool Championship Runner-up[16]
  • 2002 World Champion, Massé Shots
  • 2002 World Champion, Jump Shots
  • 2002 World Champion, Prop & Novelty Shots
  • 2002 ESPN Trick Shot Magic Runner-up[5]
  • 2001 ESPN Trick Shot Magic Runner-up[5]
  • 2001 European Artistic Pool Runner-up[2]
  • 2000 ESPN Trick Shot Magic 3rd Place[2]
  • 1984 high run of 179 balls in straight pool[6]
  • 18 times National Trick Shot Champion, Italy (1991–2010)[9]

Works
  • The Magic of Trick Shots Instructional VHS Video, 1999
  • Ultimate Trick Shots Instructional DVD, Volumes I & II, 2005
  • Amazing Trick Shots Made Easy Instructional DVD, 2007
  • More Amazing Trick Shots Made Easy Instructional DVD, 2007
  • Even More Amazing Trick Shots Made Easy Instructional DVD, 2007

References
  1. "Stefano Pelinga Inducted into National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame!". Pool & Billiard Magazine. 31 (1). Summerville, South Carolina: Sports Publications. January 2013. pp. 32–33. ISSN 1049-2852. Retrieved 22 February 2013. (subscription required).
  2. Kupriyanov, Boris (July–August 2008). "Заслуженный артист бильярдного театра (Honored Artist of the Billiard Theatre)". BilliardSport.ru. Moscow, Russia: Russian Pyramid Ltd. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  3. Shaw, Tom (March 2004). "Stefano Pelinga". Pool & Billiard Magazine. Summerville, South Carolina: Sports Publications. ISSN 1049-2852. A fair-use copy of the Pelinga article is at http://www.stefanopelinga.com/docs/03.04_PB_Pelinga.pdf on Pelinga's own site.
  4. "Pelinga's Tricks a Treat in Second Win". Billiards Digest. 30 (1). Chicago: Luby Publishing. December 2007. pp. 71–73. ISSN 0164-761X. A fair-use copy of the Pelinga article is at http://www.stefanopelinga.com/docs/BilliardsDigest_12.07.pdf on Pelinga's own site.
  5. King, Mason (August 2006). "That's Amore". Billiards Digest. 28 (9). Chicago: Luby Publishing. ISSN 0164-761X. A fair-use copy of the Pelinga article is at http://www.stefanopelinga.com/docs/BilliardsDigest_08.06.pdf on Pelinga's own site.
  6. Pelinga, Stefano (2011). "Biography of Stefano Pelinga". StefanoPelinga.com. Billiards Superstars Promomtions. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  7. "Salud, Stefano". Billiards Digest. Chicago: Luby Publishing. January 2013. ISSN 0164-761X. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  8. IAPA Board (2004). "Letter to WPA-APD" (Microsoft Word document). International Artistic Poolplayers Association. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  9. "Abracadabra: Learn to Do the Impossible with Easy to Follow Instructions from the Stars of ESPN's Trick Shot Magic". Billiards Digest. 32 (6). Chicago: Luby Publishing. May 2010. pp. cover, and pp. 2, 44, 46. ISSN 0164-761X. Retrieved 21 September 2010. This source credits him with 18 Italian national titles, so there is a source discrepancy, as Pelinga's own bio says 20 consecutive.
  10. "Contact". BilliardsSuperstars.com. Billiards Superstars Promotions. 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  11. Diep, Samm (March 2006). "Inside Stefano: The Drive & Determination" (PDF). Q-Ball Express. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  12. Leider, Nicholas, ed. (October 20, 2006). "2006 Tournament of Champions and World Cup of Trick Shots to hit Uncasville". BilliardsDigest.com. Chicago, Illinois: Luby Publishing. pp. "Headstring News" section. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  13. Segal, Andy (20 October 2007). "Professional Trick Shots and Tournament Information: 2007 ESPN World Cup of Trick Shots". ArtisticPoolPlayers.com. International Artistic Poolplayers Association. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  14. "Showdown in Seoul". InsidePoolMag.com. Kittanning, Pennsylvania: Spheragon Publishing. 30 November 2008. ""Billiard News" section" section. Retrieved 21 September 2011. Republished in NYCGrind, 1 December 2008.
  15. "Team USA Downs Team Europe in World Cup of Trick Shots". InsidePoolMag.com. Kittanning, Pennsylvania: Spheragon Publishing. November 2, 2009. ""Billiard News" section" section. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  16. "Amateur & Professional Results & Records: Artistic Pool Events". Billiards: The Official Rules and Records Book. Broomfield, CO, US: Billiard Congress of America. 2011. pp. 174–175. ISBN 978-1-878493-19-4. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  17. Segal, Andy (10 October 2010). "Professional Trick Shots and Tournament Information: 2010 ESPN World Cup of Trick Shots". ArtisticPoolPlayers.com. International Artistic Poolplayers Association. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  18. Segal, Andy (2 October 2007). "Professional Trick Shots and Tournament Information: 2007 ESPN Trick Shot Magic". ArtisticPoolPlayers.com. International Artistic Poolplayers Association. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  19. Forsyth, Jerry (November 2007). "Stefano Pelinga Captures 2007 Trick Shot Magic!". Pool & Billiard Magazine. 25 (11). Summerville, South Carolina: Sports Publications. p. 62. ISSN 1049-2852. A fair-use copy of the Pelinga article is at http://www.stefanopelinga.com/docs/TrickShotMagic.pdf on Pelinga's own site.
  20. Segal, Andy (6 October 2005). "Professional Trick Shots and Tournament Information: 2005 ESPN Trick Shot Magic". ArtisticPoolPlayers.com. International Artistic Poolplayers Association. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
  • The Break, April, 2006
  • Corriere dello Sport (Italian daily newspaper), November 23, 2005
  • Il Tempo (Italian daily newspaper), November 20, 2005
  • Billiards Digest, June, 2005
  • La Voce: The Voice of Las Vegas, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2004
  • академия (Akademia - Ukrainian monthly magazine), November, 2003
  • фАКТЬІ (Fakti - Ukrainian daily newspaper), July 21, 2003
  • Billiard Info (Czech monthly magazine), September, 1999
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