Massey was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Billiard Congress of America on April 7, 2005.[4] For 2007 he was ranked as #8 in Pool & Billiard Magazine's poll of the "Fans' Top 20 Favorite Players".[5]
World Trickshot Championship
In 1991, Massey took part in the inaugural World Trickshot Championship in the United Kingdom and despite not winning the event, demonstrated his skills in a special "duel" against the former World Snooker Champion Steve Davis before a live audience, hosted by TV personality Jeremy Beadle. Massey also demonstrated his ability to impart spin onto a ball with his hand, throwing cue balls from the baulk end of the 12-foot-long snooker table, which would then curve around and travel behind the black spot to pocket (snooker term: pot) a red ball placed in front of the top righthand pocket, without the cue ball touching a cushion.[6]
Massey used props and illusion as an integral part of his routine, such as two balls bonded together, magic props and card tricks. In the words of the 1991 World Trickshot Champion Terry Griffiths: "I feel quite embarrassed to have won actually; Mike Massey is miles ahead of the rest of us. I think it was maybe a touch of nerves that put him off tonight."[7] Massey would go on to win the event in later years.
Massey was also notable for his ability to pick up twice as many pool balls using only one hand than anyone else, a skill he claimed had won him many bets. During the aforementioned Duel with Steve Davis, he managed to pick up 8 balls, with Davis managing to pick up 5. Massey stated that the smaller snooker balls (as compared to U.S. pool balls) made the task more difficult rather than easier. Massey was able to achieve his total of 8 balls by holding a ball between each finger, then picking up 3 more using his palm and thumb muscle.
'^"The Survey Says...: Pool & Billiard Magazines 22nd Annual Player and Fan Poll". Pool & Billiard Magazine. Vol. 26, no. 2. Summerville, South Carolina: Sports Publications. February 2008. p. 14. ISSN1049-2852.
^Amazing Trickshots: The Duel, video footage, VHS home video, MIS 10009, 1991.
^The World Trickshot Championship, televised winners interview, 1991, VHS home video, MIS 10002
^Holehan, Peter (January 23, 2004). "Right On Cue". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on February 18, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2017.