New Wave Billiards in Miami, Florida, was the host location for the 2006 USBA Nationals Championship. The preliminary matches began Wednesday, February 8 and ran to Friday the 10th. Then, the final matches started Friday night and ran until Sunday, February 12th.

The best forty-six players in the country came to meet the most ferocious 3-Cushion billiard competitors in the USA. The top five payers from last year’s Nationals - Sonny Cho, 2005 National Champion; Pedro Piedrabuena, 2005 Runner Up; Michael Kang, Mazin Shooni and Roberto Arana (third, fourth and fifth place 2005 finishers respectively) - were seeded in different flights of the prelims by random draw. The dress code of dark slacks, collar shirt, tie and vest and was strictly enforced for all matches. EQUIPMENT: Six heated Wilhelmina’s, Aramith Spotted Balls, and newly installed Simonis cloth. FORMAT: Based on 46 Players Preliminaries: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 4 flights of 8 and 2 Flights of 7 - 25 Point Matches - Top two (2) from each flight advance to the next round for a total of 12 finalists as follows:

Sonny Cho New York, NY
Pedro Piedrabuena Los Angeles, CA
Michael Kang New York, NY
Mazin Shooni Boston, MA
Roberto Arana Miami, FL
Adrian Viguera Chicago, IL
Khalil Diab Vallejo, CA
Robert Raiford Miami, FL
Doug Brink Raytown, MO
Armando Wong Fort Lauderdale, FL
Aaron Steinberg Fort Lauderdale, FL
Young Lee New York, NY

"The Amazing" Mazin Shooni runs 18 in the "Race to Victory"

This amazing feat was performed in a 35-point match in only 9 innings against Armando Wong, which is now a new record high run during the USBA National Championship. The previous run was by the late, Mr. Sang Lee during his career winning 12 USBA titles in a row. Mazin played with an Schuler Custom Cue with an Allen Gilbert taper shaft. Weight 19 1/4 - 12.2mm medium Tip-Tiger.

As Saturday night of the finals came to an end, one of the upset matches was Adrian Viguera vs. Pedro Piedrabunea. Viguera won 35 to 28 putting Piedrabunea, at 6 wins and 1 loss record. Now the only two with a no loss record is Mazin Shooni and Sonny Cho. They each had 7 wins and 0 losses. On Sunday play started at 10:00am with 4 rounds left to go to see who will be the next USBA 2006 3-Cushion Champion.

Bob Jewett (New President of the USBA) and Secretary Brian Morgan were also on hand to help out. I would like to mention David Levine and Hernando (Owner of New Wave Billiards), for there generous donations along with other contributors, Aramith, Tiger Products, Professor-Q-Ball, Dennis Deskman, Sid Banner, Iwan Simonis, Schuler Cue, Corner Pocket Billiards, Don Sperber, Len Relic and Carl E. Anderson. It is people like this that keep our sport going.

"The Amazing" Mazin Shooni
Wins the USBA 3-Cushion Nationals

It was Mazin Shooni and Pedro Piedrabunea that went into the heat of battle to see who was going to be the new USBA Champion. Mazin won the lag and ran 2 points. Pedro snaps off a 10 and the crowd goes wild. Mazin comes back and runs 8 and the crowd roars. With a blink of an eye the score in the 2nd inning is already10 to 10. Pedro misses and Mazin runs 3 more, then a 2 and another 3 and still another 3. Then Pedro runs 3 and another blink of an eye and the score is 21 to 13 Mazin lead. Pedro makes a point and then runs 6 and at the end of 10 innings the score is 24 Mazin and Pedro 23. Both players are on fire and the crowd is burning for more action. Mazin comes back and runs another 1 and then 4 more, while Pedro makes an unbelievable shot. . Score is now 29-25 Mazin is still in the lead. Mazin runs 2 and he makes an unbelievable shot. 32- 26. Pedro got a lucky roll and kisses a point in and then makes an unbelievable shot that had the crowd going. Mazin now only needs 3 and he takes his shot and gets a kiss and then kisses again and makes his point. Mazin then went on to win and now he is crowned the USBA 3-Cushion Champion of 2006.

Mazin's average for the final game against Pedro was 1.75 avg. and his overall average in the finals was 1.3 The chart below shows all the 12 finalists wins and Losses, Total Points, Total innings, Grand Average High-Run Best Game and Final Ranking.

Prize fund
1- $3,500.00
2- $3,000.00
3- $2,500.00
4- $2,000.00
5- $1,700.00
6- $1,400.00
7- $1,150.00
8- $1,000.00
9 - $850.00
10 -$700.00
11 -$600.00
12 -$500.00
13 - $300.00
14 - $300.00
15 - $300.00

HI-Run $200

Special thanks goes out to
Sid Banner and Roberto Arana (tournament Directors), Hernando Pineras, Charlie Brown, George Aronex and all the Refs and score keepers.

Comments from Mazin:
"The past year has had many highs and lows for me. I was married this summer and then lost my mother in September. When I entered the tournament, I was determined to do the best I possible could in honor of my mother and my new marriage. My wife was at my side and supported me 100% for the entire tournament, and I know my mother answered more than a few prayers. My friends from Boston and Detroit were behind me every step of the way, and the audience was incredible. Winning this tournament is a dream of a lifetime, and I am extremely grateful to everyone who was behind me."