Yang Ching-shun

rdf:langString Yang Ching-shun

rdf:langString Yang Ching-shun (Chinese: 楊清順; born 3 April 1978) is a Taiwanese professional pool player, nicknamed "the Son of Pool". Yang won the nine-ball event of the 1998 Asian Games against then World Pool champion Kunihiko Takahashi. He defended it in 2002 against Warren Kiamco. In an unsuccessful attempt to defend that title for the second time, Yang settled for 3rd place as he was bested in the semi-finals by Jeff de Luna who then finished second to Antonio Gabica. Despite the fact that he never won a world championship in any discipline of pool like his fellow Taiwanese player Chao Fong-pang did, Yang has often been regarded as a potential world champion. His best finish in the World Pool Championship is 3rd where he reached the semi-finals in 2002. However, he was bested by Francisco Bustamante who eventually lost to Earl Strickland in the finals As His father died while he was still a child, Yang was left to fend for his own along with his mother. He express no interest in his studies and chose to work in a local billiard hall near his home, where he met Chao Fong Pang. He first started playing pool at the age of 14 and by the time he was 16, he was Japan open champion beating Fransico Bustamante. His hobbies include golf and fishing.