The 38th edition of the U.S. Open 9-ball Championships returned to Chesapeake last Sunday, with 170 of the world’s top billiards players in attendance. The tournament which runs until Saturday has a 1st place prize of $30,000.
The original 9-ball championships began with a 16-player field that gathered 1976 at the original Q-Master Billiards in Norfolk. The defending champion Shane Van Boening of South Dakota is the man to beat, but there are a wide range of talent from all over the world.
Our Canadian contingent is off to a good start with the Bonus Ball Team (Toronto Blue Sharks) John Morra, Jason Klatt and Erik Hjorleifson each moving into the 3rd round without a loss. The experienced Mario Morra was not so fortunate as he suffered a 2nd round loss to Earl Strickland. Earl is a five time winner of this event and recently took the Turning Stone title last month.
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CLICK HERE for Tournament Brackets and Live Scoring provided by AZBilliards.com.
The previous winners of this event are:
| 2012 | Shane Van Boening |
| 2011 | Darren Appleton |
| 2010 | Darren Appleton |
| 2009 | Mika Immonen |
| 2008 | Mika Immonen |
| 2007 | Shane Van Boening |
| 2006 | John Schmidt |
| 2005 | Alex Pagulayan |
| 2004 | Gabe Owen |
| 2003 | Jeremy Jones |
| 2002 | Ralf Souquet |
| 2001 | Corey Deuel |
| 2000 | Earl Strickland |
| 1999 | Johnny Archer |
| 1998 | Buddy Hall |
| 1997 | Earl Strickland |
| 1996 | Rodney Morris |
| 1995 | Reed Pierce |
| 1994 | Efren Reyes |
| 1993 | Earl Strickland |
| 1992 | Tommy Kennedy |
| 1991 | Buddy Hall |
| 1990 | Nick Varner |
| 1989 | Nick Varner |
| 1988 | Mike Lebron |
| 1987 | Earl Strickland |
| 1986 | David Howard |
| 1985 | Jimmy Reid |
| 1984 | Earl Strickland |
| 1983 | Mike Sigel |
| 1982 | David Howard |
| 1981 | Allen Hopkins |
| 1980 | Mike Sigel |
| 1979 | Louie Roberts |
| 1978 | Steve Mizerak |
| 1977 | Allen Hopkins |
| 1976 | Mike Sigel |
