Shane Van Boening

Shane Van Boening (born 14 July 1983) is an American professional pocket billiards (pool) player from Rapid City, South Dakota, currently ranked No.1 in the U.S. Rankings published by the UPA Tour.

Van Boening is hearing-impaired and uses a hearing aid, but it has not limited his pool ability. [ [http://www.keloland.com/Sports/NewsDetail7981.cfm?Id=0,58118 "Shark in Pool"] , by Tony Burns, "Keloland TV", June 21, 2007. Retrieved June 22, 2007] He has received praise for his attitude towards the sport, partially for his behaviour during matches, and for eschewing alcohol. [ [http://www.rcweeklynews.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/11/16/437b8cc291b3b The Rapid City Weekly News] , Straight Shooter, November 16, 2005. Retrieved June 12, 2007 ]

Professional career

When Van Boening was a year and a half old, he watched his grandfather play pool and took a liking to the multi-colored balls on the emerald green felt. His family has a strong pocket billiards background. His grandfather, Gary Bloomberg, was a trick-shot artist; his grandmother, Jeanne Bloomberg, a VNEA national champion; his mother, Timi Bloomberg, a BCA national champion; and his aunt, Gari Jo Bloomberg, a three-time VNEA national champion.

Van Boening defeated Hungarian Vilmos Foldes at the International Pool Tour qualifier in 2006, and was one of several players to earn a bonus of US$5,000 for breaking and running six consecutive racks in tournament play. Shane was one of only 10 players to earn their IPT tour card by finishing in the top two spots of one of five qualifiers. Shane won the second stop held at the Pool Room in Altanta, Georgia. [ [http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt_content/events_thepoolroom06/sportswriter3.asp "InternationalPoolTour.com"] , "Hill-Hill Battle goes to Van Boening," by Sally Timko, January 29, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2007]

He has been ranked number one in the world by "AZBilliards.com". When he is not competing professionally, he can be found practicing in downtown Sioux Falls at Lucky Billiards, where he is the house pro and co-owner. [ [http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070612/SPORTS/706120329/1002 "ArgusLeader.com"] , "S.D.'s Next Super Star?", by Matt Zimmer, June 12, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2007] Van Boening is a three-time VNEA national eight-ball champion, [ [http://www.billiardsdigest.com/current_issue/aug_06/IPTpreview.pdf "Strong Contenders and Up-and-Comers"] , "Billiards Digest", August 2006. Retrieved June 13, 2007] . In 2007, he made it to the final of the BCA Open Nine-ball Championship but lost to Dennis Orcollo. [ [http://www.bca-pool.com/play/tournaments/9ballpro/9ball_main.shtml BCA Open 9-Ball Championship] "BCA-Pool.com", Men's Division. Retrieved June 12, 2007] Days later, he dominated the inaugural World Ten-ball Championship [ [http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storya.cfm?storynum=4382 Van Boening Wins World Ten-ball Championship] , "AzBilliards.com", May 27, 2007. Retrieved June 12, 2007] [ [http://www.poolmag.com/predator.cfm Van Boening Wins World Ten-ball Championship] , "Pool and Billiards Magazine", June 2007. Retrieved June 13, 2007] to become the first-ever world champion in that discipline of pool.

Shane has been declared by some as the next-in-line and heir-apparent to the throne of being the best pool player in the US by "Inside POOL Magazine". [ [http://www.insidepoolmag.com/pool-players/billiard-players/shane-van-boening-200706165042.html Shane Van Boening] , "Inside POOL Magazine", June 2007. Retrieved June, 16, 2007] Clarifyme|date=February 2008

The last decade in pool had witnessed a strong Filipino dominance, which has only been reinforced in recent years. Van Boening captured the hot seat in the World Summit of Pool in June 16, 2007, giving 2004 WPA Men's World Nine-ball Champion Alex "the Lion" Pagulayan an 11–4 thrashing. There were four players left standing in the quarter-finals of the double-elimination event, three Filipinos on the B side of the charts and one American in the hot seat, American Shane Van Boening. [ [http://www.azbilliards.com Billiard Factory World Summit Day 3: USA Counts on Van Boening Again] "AzBilliards.com", June 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2007] The last day, all matches were shortened races to 7 because they were being recorded by ESPN. Alex Pagulayan plowed through Francisco Bustamante and Warren Kiamco and faced Van Boening in the final. Despite Pagulayan leading 4-1, Van Boening recovered to tie the score, 5-5 before veteran Pagulayan won the next two games to claim the victory, 7 to 5. [ [http://www.azbilliards.com "Lion Wins World Summit of Pool"] , "AzBilliards.com", June 16, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2007] [ [http://www.theactionreport.com/liveupdate.html Shane Van Boening vs. Alex Pagulayan Live Update] , "TheActionReport.com". Retrieved June 18, 2007]

The Billiards Congress of America Pool League owner Mark Griffin recognized his talent and decided in 2007 to sponsor him as he advances his professional career. [ [http://www.azbilliards.com/2000storyb.cfm?storynum=4411 "AzBilliards.com"] , Press Release, June 10, 2007, BCA Pool League Sponsors Shane Van Boening. Retrieved June 12, 2007]

On October 20, 2007, he won the 2007 (32nd annual) US Open Nine-ball Championship, defeating Filipino Champion Ronnie Alcano in the finals, 13–10. Van Boening remained undefeated in the double-elimination format of the championship, held in Chesapeake, Virginia.

At the Reno Open Nine-ball Championship, held on December 9, 2007, Van Boening and Johnny Archer were in the double-elimination finals. Archer was up to that point undefeated, and Van Boening had to beat Archer twice; Van Boening won the first set, and 83 minutes later, claimed the championship. [ [http://otbntv.com/ Shane Wins] , "http://otbntv.com". Retrieved December 11, 2007]

As a capstone to his record year, for 2007 he was declared the male Player of the Year by all three of the major pool publications, "Billiards Digest"BDMag|title=The Quiet Man|last=King|first=Mason|month=February|year=2008|volume=30|issue=3|pages=pp. 48–53|accessdate=2008-02-14] , "Pool & Billiard Magazine",PBMag|title=Shane Van Boening: 2007 'Player of the Year'|month=February|year=2008|volume=26|issue=2|pages=pp. 21–23 14|accessdate=2008-02-14|last=Shank|first=Dale] and "InsidePOOL Magazine"IPMag|title="InsidePOOL"'s 2007 Male Professional Player of the Year: Shane Van Boening|year=2008|month=February|last=Loria|first=Keith|volume=VIII|issue=2|pages=pp. 26–27] (in each case with Allison Fisher as his female co-recipient of the honor), and also ranked #11 in the "P&B" "Fans' Top 20 Favorite Players" poll for that year.Cite journal|title=The Survey Says...: "Pool & Billiard Magazine"'s 22nd Annual Player and Fan Poll|month=February|year=2008|volume=26|issue=2|pages=p. 14|accessdate=2008-02-14]

Titles and achievements

* 2007 Reno Open 9-Ball Championship
* 2007 U.S. Open 9-Ball Championship
* 2007 Predator World Ten-ball Championship, Jacksonville, Florida
* 2007 "Inside POOL Magazine" Player of the Year
*2007 "Billiards Digest" Player of the Year (male)
*2007 "Pool & Billiard Magazine" Player of the Year (male)
*2007 "Pool & Billiard Magazine" Fans' Top 20 Favorite Players, #11

References