Steven Wong Wins United States National Snooker Championship Title
Steven Wong claimed his first-ever United States National Snooker Championship title by defeating Raymond Fung in the 2022 final at Ox Billiards in Seattle.
The championship was played on top-notch professional tournament tables and attracted a global audience via live streaming.
There was a surprise exit of the six-time defending champion Ahmed Aly Elsayed in the round of 16, but the tournament showcased new, enthusiastic players, including Seattle’s Frances Tso, who was the only woman player in the event.
Wong’s performance was a pleasant surprise, considering his previous best result was reaching the semifinals in 2007 and quarterfinals in 2018 and 2019.
He lost one group match to finish second but improved in the knockout rounds to beat each opponent, showcasing his tenacity.
Wong dominated the best-of-9-frames final, taking an early 2-0 lead, but Fung, a former champion and three-time runner-up, fought back to secure two frames and take the lead.
However, as Fung started to become aware of the possibility of winning his second championship title, he became defensive, allowing Wong to capitalize and easily seal the next two frames.
Fung put up more resistance in the eighth frame but ultimately conceded after requiring too many snookers, and Wong claimed a 5-3 victory.
