Sophomore undecided major Brian White started playing pool three years ago and finally is near the point where he soon will enter tournaments.

On Thursday, White attended a series of events scheduled throughout the day at the Huskie Den featuring professional pool player Paul Gerni.

After a workshop hosted by Gerni, White said he felt more confident about his own game.

During the workshop, Gerni reviewed a brief history of pool before going over fundamentals, such as stance and how to hold a cue stick. He stressed the importance of cue ball control, which affords a player good position on subsequent shots if executed correctly.

“It should be like a ballet of billiards, just you and the little white ball,” Gerni told the crowd of about 30.

Gerni demonstrated pool drills players can use to practice cue control.

Several times during the workshop, Gerni called audience members to the table to demonstrate the correct way to execute a shot.

White was one of those people.

“I was scared because I think he said that the cue was worth $2,500,” White said.

Gerni also demonstrated what to do in game situations in 8-ball, 9-ball and straight pool.

Later in the evening, Gerni did a full show of his trick shots; some were seen in his morning teaser performance.

The shots ranged from jump to prop shots to skill and stroke shots. He performed famous shots from movies, television and commercials.

In one notable shot, Gerni sunk 11 balls in one stroke of the cue.

“I think it’s great for the sport, exposing people who might not get to see this kind of thing live,” said Donna Wargo, manager of the Huskie Den.

White said he will take something away from the event to help his game.

“Knowing what I can do with trick shots in my 9-ball game will help a lot,” he said.