Professional pool player and South Dakota native Shane Van Boening was crowned the 2014 US Open 9-ball Champion over the weekend, and he has now earned his way onto the Team USA squad.
The Rapid City native now lives in Sioux Falls and he's considered one of the top ten pocket billiard players in the world. He’s also hearing-impaired, but that hasn’t impaired his signature break. On visits to South Dakota School for the Deaf, he discusses his journey through life with a disability.
In 2007 he won his first professional tournament in the Windy City Open Pro-Am 9-Ball event. Since then he’s won over two-dozen tournaments, including four US Open 9-ball Championships (2007, 2012, 2013, 2014).
Earlier this year, SDPB’s Dakota Life featured Van Boening in “The Break,” a look at how Van Boening’s mastered the break in competitive pool.
“What I’m known for today is that I’m one of the best breakers out there” says Van Boening. “There’s certain shots on the table that I'll work on, but the most important thing is the break.”
Because of where he hails from, Van Boening is nicknamed “The South Dakota Kid” in the pocket billiards profession.
Click HERE to watch the story of Shane Van Boening
