Yang was taught pool by Chao, who he (Yang) used to regard as his not only his mentor but also his favorite player. Was Chao with Yang during his recent match up with Orcullo? I wonder if they're still close?
Ching Shun Yang & Fong Pang Chao
- Thread starter Terry Ardeno
- Start date
Nostroke said:
Chao is making his home base in Shanghai because of business interests here but is traveling as needed to play, etc. I have no clue whether he was with Yang.
A couple weeks ago he played in the Monday night mall tounament in Taiwan which I think is still going on.
I'll never forget the deliberate "shark" move Chao used on Oliver Ortmann at the 2000 WPC in Cardiff. It was as flagrant as I've ever seen (and effective too), and he offered no explanation or excuse. I was watching, as I was doing commentary and it blew me away.
Oliver was shooting a long shot on the five I believe, and looking straight down the barrel at Chao who sat motionless in his chair. Just as Oliver took his final stroke, Chao abruptly turned his head to the right. Oliver missed! I couldn't believe what I had just seen, and commented on it immediately. I don't think the ref saw it, and nothing happened, although it was replayed and shown on TV (bless SkySports for trusting me).
Needless to say, Oliver was quite mad, and lost the match after this. This happened in the Quarter Final round and Chao went on to win the tournament beating Morro Paez in the Finals.
Oliver was shooting a long shot on the five I believe, and looking straight down the barrel at Chao who sat motionless in his chair. Just as Oliver took his final stroke, Chao abruptly turned his head to the right. Oliver missed! I couldn't believe what I had just seen, and commented on it immediately. I don't think the ref saw it, and nothing happened, although it was replayed and shown on TV (bless SkySports for trusting me).
Needless to say, Oliver was quite mad, and lost the match after this. This happened in the Quarter Final round and Chao went on to win the tournament beating Morro Paez in the Finals.
9-ball is very popular in taiwan, but it is sad only few players can make a living by playing pool (only pro baseball and basketball players can gain enough support from the business and the government in taiwan). Except Chao, Pan's coach was also the former taiwan pro player. More and more taiwanese will retire early and move to China to be the coach. Frankly speaking, sometimes it is terribly dejecting. 
On the other hand, China will have more and more influence on pool in the future undoubtedly.
On the other hand, China will have more and more influence on pool in the future undoubtedly.
liekdi2588 said:9-ball is very popular in taiwan, but it is sad only few players can make a living by playing pool (only pro baseball and basketball players can gain enough support from the business and the government in taiwan). Except Chao, Pan's coach was also the former taiwan pro player. More and more taiwanese will retire early and move to China to be the coach. Frankly speaking, sometimes it is terribly dejecting.
We have a similar story in the Philippines. Promising young talent often go abroad to eke out a living. Francisco Bustamante started out that way. Joven Bustamante took the same path before finishing 3rd in the World 8-ball championships and got signed up by a manager when he got back here. Israel Rota, one of the players who qualified into the 2006 World Pool Championships didn't participate in our National Pool Championships because he was eking out a living abroad.
Hopefully that will change in the future for both Taiwan and the Philippines as billiards becomes bigger.
Anyway, I also heard from my end that Shanghai is a happening place for pool. Is it the same story for American Professional Pool players as their interests for their livelihood become paramount and they look for more profitable ventures? Chao is a pretty enterprising fellow, I even have his instructional book he produced with the Taiwanese billiards analyst (whose name escapes me). I'm pretty sure he's making a lot of money off of his name, and he deserves it for spurring Taiwan into a world power.
OT, but a bit related: whatever happened to Hao-Ping Chang, 1999 WPC finalist who lost to Efren Reyes in the finals. I didn't see him in Kaoshiung during the 2005 WPC.
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gopi-1 said:
Yes, got that one on tape too. The ref failed to call the fail. We discussed this in the booth also.
Was 20000 the year he answered his cellphone in the middle of a match while his opponent (Paez) was shooting? 
14.1player said:Was 20000 the year he answered his cellphone in the middle of a match while his opponent (Paez) was shooting?
Another one of his sporty moves. We think he had a friend who was in the stands call his phone. This guy is a piece of work, hence the name "Stone Faced Killer". He embodies everything that name conjures up.
I've never had an ounce of respect for him after catching his act that year. I don't think Oliver does either.
jay helfert said:
First, "thank you" to all of you who responed on this thread. I can't get enough info on these Taiwanese players, especially Chao, who is among my very favorite palyers. I really appreciate the comments & related questions.
Then, Jay, you made me chuckle with your description of Chao's antics. I am lucky enough to have the tape of that match. Matchroom released an abridged version of their (Chao vs Ortmann) match. It did not include his alleged infractions, however, your account mirrored the accounts given in the pool magazines & internet that covered it at the time. The part that I especially thought was great was Oliver, ever the consumate gentleman, went over to Chao after the match and shook his hand. From their expressions, I doubt they exchange Christmas cards, but kudo's to Ortman, another of my top 5 favorite active players.
Lastly, in another thread I posted over the weekend re: Taiwanese vs Philippine players, I inquired how the Taiwanese players got along with each other. There were some revealing answers.
I still think the world of Chao. I think he's a true character.