6-Time Champ Wins U.S. Billiards Title

Simi Valley was the site Sunday of the U.S. National Championship finals in three-cushion billiards. Six-time U.S. champ Sang Chung Lee of New York City beat out seven other finalists to take the top prize.

One of the finalists was Sam Worley, 55, of Simi Valley.

Lee, 42, and Mazin Shooni, 33, of Michigan were tied at the end of the final day of the five-day tournament, with six wins and one loss each. The two met in a 40-point playoff.

Except for playoff matches, each game is 50 points, and a player scores one point for each successful three-cushion shot.

Lee beat Shooni in the playoff, 40-25, to emerge as the tournament’s champion. For his efforts, he took home $2,000 of a $6,000 purse

The tournament, held at Oasis Billiards Club, attracted 21 of the best billiards players in the country, said tournament director Derek Knell. “This year we had one of the strongest fields that we have had in a long time,” he said.

Other finalists were Khalil Diab, 56, of Vallejo, a former champion in Egypt; Frank Torres, 51, of Las Vegas; Jung Kim, 41, Sonny Cho, 34, and Ji Soo Ang, 37, all of New York City.