In 2008, Europe was looking to defend its first World Cup of Trick Shots title. Ralph Eckert was added to the team, joining Stefano Pelinga, Lukasz Szywala, and Nick Nikolaidis. Team USA, looking to recapture the title, brought back its title-winning team of 2006: Andy Segal, Tom Rossman, Mike Massey, and Bruce Barthelette. The first semifinal saw Nickolaidis and Eckert match up against Rossman and Massey. Europe took an early lead, but it couldn't stretch it to more than one. Team USA finally got ahead in the middle of the match, but Europe tied it up again late. On the final shot of the match, however, Rossman was able to convert his attempt and Eckert was unable to match it, giving the USA a 9-8 victory. The second semifinal was another tense affair. Again, Pelinga and Szywala gave Europe an early lead. Segal and Barthelette were able to claw back from two points down late in the match to tie it up at 8, leading to a sudden death tiebreaker, an 8 rail bank on to a $100 dollar bill. Pelinga's attempt for Europe looked great until it scratched in the corner. Segal couldn't capitalize catching the point of the side pocket. Pelinga made a great adjustment for his second attempt, placing the cue ball mere inches away from the bill. Not to be outdone, Segal landed his cue ball with an edge overhanging the bill for the victory and the two point advantage going in to the final. Team USA never looked in danger with that advantage, although Europe kept pace, never behind by more than three. Team USA regained the World Cup of Trick Shots title with an 8-5 final score.