some people actually specialize in doing trick shots, and can be good/decent players.
I used to play pool a lot, and in my experience - the really good ones actually make the game look so simple to the point it is almost boring. Efren Reyes used to be Philippines' most popular athlete, before Manny Pacquiao became popular in boxing. I used to follow him around the secret pool halls in Manila where the big names meet for serious amount of bets. They play rotation (race to 61) because 9 balls is too easy for them. Efren can beat some world class players playing left handed as handicap (he is right handed). Efren will do a shot that looks so simple to everybody, then after the game, you will see other highly skilled players try to imitate the shot and fail to get the cue ball do the same.
Efren and a few other Filipinos eventually became popular in Vegas. While they've won a lot of tournaments, they're not after the championship plaque & championship purse all the time. Pool is usually a gambler's game. Don't be surprised to see them lose in the tournament and go home very happy, they usually cleanup the winner's pocket in a secret location somewhere after the tournament and take home lot's of money, tax free