2005 US Champion Sonny Cho wins it all!!!

Sonny Cho

The Grand Opening Tournament at Cue and Cushion Billiard Lounge in Hooksett, NH was a blast! Ten players came out to New Hampshire to support the grand opening of Cue and Cushion, owned by 2006 US Champion, Mazin Shooni.

The format was a 10-man round-robin. Nine games were played by each of the 10 players. The favorites were current US Champion Miguel Torres, 2006 Champion Mazin Shooni and 2005 Champion Sonny Cho. An outside favorite was Sung Kim, originally from Korea, now in San Francisco. He is playing in the Sang Lee International Tournament this week and wanted to "warm up" in the New Hampshire Tournament.

The other players were Dan Kolacz from Buffalo(winner of 2 Derby City Qualifiers), Jose Costa (winner of the Carom Cafe "B" Tournament earlier this year), USBA Secretary/Treasurer Jim Shovak and local players Robert Lewis, Drew Dangelmayer and Tom Sansouci.

Early on, the tournament went as expected, with the four favorites starting out undefeated. Sung Kim just barely defeated Jim Shovak 25-24 in a tense, back and forth battle. Then, on day 2 of the tournament, Dan Kolacz made his presence known. He defeated Mazin Shooni and Miguel Torres in back to back matches! Dan was playing great!

The only undefeated players left were Sonny Cho and Sung Kim. However, both players still had to play the top players in the event. Then Sung Kim lost his matches to Shooni, Torres and Cho, putting him at 6 wins and 3 losses. Mazin Shooni decided to play his best match against Sonny Cho, by scoring 25 points in just 10 innings! Sonny only scored 11 points in that match which could have potentially ruined his chances in the tournament. Miguel Torres defeated Mazin 25-14, handing Mazin his 2nd loss.

So, going into the final game, here is what it looked like:

Miguel Torres and Sonny Cho were both 7-1. The winner of the final match would be the Tournament Champion. Mazin Shooni was 7-2 with 212 total points scored and Dan Kolacz was 7-2 with 211 total points scored. Miguel Torres had 197 total points scored, so if Miguel lost the final match, he would need to score 15 points in order to secure 2nd place. If he only scored 14 points, he would end up in 4th place. Sonny Cho was in an even worse situation. He only had 186 total points scored going into the final match. So Sonny needed to win the match. If he lost the match, even with 24 points scored, he would end up in 4th place. So the pressure was on Sonny.

Sonny came through in grand style, running a 6-and-out and winning the match 25-21. Sonny Cho finishes in 1st place and Miguel Torres comes in 2nd. A total of $ 2,450.00 was added to the prize fund by sponsors. Mazin Shooni received $ 100.00 for his high run of 8 and Sung Kim received $ 100.00 for his high run out of the money with his run of 7.

Order of Finish:

Click HERE for Tournament Chart in PDF Format

Top Left to Right: Robert Lewis, Drew Dangelmayer, Jose Costa, Tom Sansouci, Jim Shovak
Bottom Left to Right: Mazin Shooni, Sonny Cho, Sung Kim, Dan Kolacz, Miguel Torres
Photo by Steve Booth

Special thanks to the people at Cue and Cushion who helped out: Tony, Cliff, Megan, Katherine. Steve Booth for his photography. Our sponsors: David Levine, Jim Shovak, Michael Kang, Kilby Cues, Gabriels Cues.

Rumor has it that this may have been the first USBA Tournament ever in the state of New Hampshire. Let's have hundreds more!!!

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Cue and Cushion Billiards Lounge is now owned
by the 2006 US National 3-Cushion Champion Mazin Shooni!

Grand Opening 3-Cushion Open Tournament:

Come Play with U.S. Top Players
$2,250.00 Added, $4,350.00 Prize Fund
14 Players - Two groups of 7
3 from each advance to finals
$155 Entry includes table time
25 pt prelims - 30 pt finals
USBA Membership Required
You Can Join at the Tournament
Call Mazin: (248) 910-4466

Cue & Cushion Billiards Lounge
1271 Hooksett Rd
Hooksett, NH 03106

Home of the Amazin Mazin Shooni
2006 3-Cushion National Champion
Main: (603) 623-5330
Open Daily 11am-1am
After 8pm must be 21yrs or older
10 Gold Crown Pool Tables
2 Chevillotte Billiard Tables
Online Video Games, Darts
Full Bar

Come meet the Maestro!!

-Sanctioned by United States Billiard Association, Inc. (USBA)

Hotel accommodations for Cue and Cushion Tournament:

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
8 Bell Avenue
Hooksett, NH 03106
1.65 Miles from room
Rate is $99.00 + 8% Occupancy tax
Call reservations at 603-606-5485
King bed or queen / Queen Beds are in the block at the same rate
Included in this rate is our hot continental breakfast including fresh waffles, hard boiled eggs, assorted yogurts, cereals, fruit, bagels, muffins, donuts, pastry fresh coffee, herbal teas and fresh fruit juice. We have a Market on site with an assortment of snacks and beverages.
603-606-5485 phone
603-606-5491 fax

Clarion Hotel
21 Front Street
Manchester, NH
5 Miles from room
All non-smoking rooms
$ 84.15/night+tax with USBA Member Discount
Do not call hotel directly.
Please refer to your membership package before making reservations.

Econo Lodge
75 W. Hancock St.
Manchester, NH
10 Miles from room
USBA Member Discount Rates:
$ 55.25/night+tax: 1 Queen Bed Smoking
$ 55.25/night+tax: 1 Queen Bed Non-Smoking
$ 63.75/night+tax: 2 Queen Beds Smoking
$ 72.25/night+tax: 2 Queen Beds Non-Smoking
$ 76.50/night+tax: 1 King Bed Non-Smoking
Do not call hotel directly.
Please refer to your membership package before making reservations.