when the smoke cleared there was shane van boening. first world championship, sealing his status atop the sport. he confided to us that he'd slept with the trophy for a month. van boening is mobbed at pool tournaments but can still walk through an airport unbothered. >> he's no lebron james, and i totally understand that, and i recognize that, and it's our job to turn that around. it is our responsibility to turn that world number one prize money from $80,000 to a million, so it's prize money, it's more events, and let's get these players known. you've got to fall in love with them. >> reporter: are they lovable? >> yes, some of them. >> reporter: the health of the sport also depends on minting a new generation of elite players. so this tournament had a junior division held alongside the pros, and named, what else, the shane van boening junior open. >> future pros? >> oh, yeah, definitely, definitely, they have so much passion for the game. i'm going to shoot this. >> reporter: back at the pool hall in rapid city we experience pool's hi