Yang Chin-shun (
Prior to the win, Yang, a 27-year-old native of Kaohsiung, was a third place finisher at the World Pool Championships in 2002, and had second and third-place finishes at the San Miguel Asian 9-ball Tour last year.
His final match was an 11:8 win over 26-year old Chang Pei-wei (
The championship match was close in the early going, with player's locked at 2:2 and 3:3 before Yang took advantage of a few fortunate rolls, racing out to a 9:2 lead.
Chang battled back, making tough shots and stringing together a number of racks to level the score at 10:8. A scratch on Chang's final break left the door open as Yang ran the table and sealed the victory.
"The table wasn't a problem for me," Yang said after finishing a quarterfinal match earlier in the day. "I'm used to playing with pockets that are 1.8 inches in diameter. This is the typical size we use in Kaohsiung."
Yang said he has been playing pool since the age of 14. Since then, he's received instruction from a number of experienced players, although he's had no formal coaching. Prior to a major tournament, Yang undertakes a full week of intensive practice.
Earlier in the day, Yang fought a close quarterfinal match against 42-year old Philippine native Francisco Bustamante. Yang prevailed 7:6, playing in an aggressive style while rarely opting for safety shots. He instead used a variety of kick-shots and jump shots to eke out a narrow victory.
Bustamante then faced Effrem "The Magician" Reyes in an all-Philippines match for third place. Feeling like more of consolation match, Reyes cruised to a comfortable 4:0 lead, giving Bustamante few chances at the table as he quickly won 7:2.
Reyes, a favorite among professional pool players for his innovative shots and quiet demeanor, claimed a US$7,000 paycheck for his effort.
The home court advantage may have proved useful for local players, who benefited from vocal fans. Though he did not make it to final day of competition, Earl "The Pearl" Strickland was upset with the hometown audience, and what he described as "clapping when you miss."
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely