An update on Kevin (Yu-Hsuan) Cheng
So far he is the only Taiwanese pro to win a U.S. Open 9 Ball Championship title.
THERE ARE SOME TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCES that are forever seared into the mind of a passionate pool fan. Here are some good examples: the 1995 Sands Regency Open finals between Earl Strickland and Efren Reyes which Reyes executed the famous “Z-shot”; Shane Van Boening’s winning one-nine combo (a “guess shot,” according to him) in the 2018 Mosconi Cup; the long bank shot on the 9-ball to win David Alcaide his second World Pool Masters title in 2019; and dark horse Kevin Cheng capturing the 2015 U.S. Open 9 Ball Championship title and winning $40,000.
The U.S. Open winner typically rides the momentum into subsequent years. The last appearances of Kevin Cheng was more than three years ago in 2019 which he competed in a few tournaments in America.
Then the talented Taiwanese pro went silent.
It wasn’t till recently that Facebook surfaced a post about the famed pool champion. Just Billiards, a Taiwanese Facebook page about the sport, posted an auction of Cheng’s Southwest cue — the one he used to win the 2015 title but since acquired by the owner of Just Billiards two years ago — to benefit Cheng and his family. Additional information was given stating that in late 2020 Cheng was diagnosed with brain and stomach cancers and had to undergo surgery. Although the operation went smoothly, it nonetheless affected his hand-eye coordination and motor functions, and hence the long absence from pool events. He’s also married with a young son.
The winning bid came in at NT$310,000 or about $10,200 from a owner of a pool establishment in the city of Taichung. Thirty percent of the fund will go to Cheng and his family. According to the Facebook video, Cheng is seen to be doing well and is grateful to the family, friends, and fans who have shown great support.
It’s always wonderful to hear about the pool community coming together to help another in need, be it a regular joe or a world champion halfway around the world. If you would like to show your support and appreciation, drop by Just Billiards on Facebook or find Kevin Cheng on Instagram (although his last post was in August 2022).
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