RIP CHANG JUNG LIN

Heartbreaking. Though separated by the lack of a common language, he and I got to know each other quite well. Saw him at the 2025 Las Vegas Open in February and had a chance to greet him. I recall sitting at a table in the casino with JL Chang and Kevin Cheng during the 2019 US Open 9ball, two great guys who had some of life's really bad rolls coming.

JL Chang is the only guy I can think of that wore SVB out in their head-to-head 10ball matches. After being the one that sent Shane to the "B" side, I'll bet he expected to win the 2016 US Open 9ball final, but Shane rose to the occasion, snapping off the title in one of the more memorable finals.

We have lost a superstar of cue sports and woe is us because of it. Condolences to his family and friends.
 
There's not much I can add to what's been said above. JL Chang was always one of my favorite players, with his methodical style and forever stoic demeanor. I'll never forget the time when he watched Shaw put a 5-pack on him to get to hill-hill in the hot seat match of 2016 U. S. Open, and then when Shaw missed a difficult long shot on the 3 ball in the deciding game, Chang came up to the table and calmly closed out the match. Ever since that match, I always made it a point to watch Chang at every opportunity.
 
Taxi said:
There's not much I can add to what's been said above. JL Chang was always one of my favorite players, with his methodical style and forever stoic demeanor. I'll never forget the time when he watched Shaw put a 5-pack on him to get to hill-hill in the hot seat match of 2016 U. S. Open, and then when Shaw missed a difficult long shot on the 3 ball in the deciding game, Chang came up to the table and calmly closed out the match. Ever since that match, I always made it a point to watch Chang at every opportunity.
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Yeah, that was amazing. Also incredible was the 2019 Bigfoot 10ball final vs Filler. Josh ran out to a 5-0 lead, but JL Chang then produced some of the finest 10ball I have ever seen to pull off the comeback.
 
JAM said:
Oh, no. One of my favorite photos was when he won the inaugural International Open in 2018. The joy on his face with Ra Hanna is such a great moment. This is awful news.

Photo credit: Erwin Dionisio

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What a wonderful picture. Chang was usually very reserved in his demeanor, but on that rare occasion that he came out of his shell, he was delightful.
 
From Billiards Digest, I'm not sure if you can read this unless you have a Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1232306628692495&set=a.570772554845909

Here is a copy-and-paste. Very powerful read.

This is a translation of a post Jung-Lin Chang made following his 2012 World 8-Ball Championship win in Fujairah, UAE. He was 26 at the time.
Powerful!

"No one asked me about my ten years of study, but once I became famous, the whole world knew about me.
When I reached the No. 1 ranking in the world today, I saw the clapping and the encouragement, and I heard the thunderous applause.
But behind this the whole world knew about me, I suddenly realized my own ignorance.
Very, very, very ignorant.
The ball I hit is smaller than a baseball.
Naturally, I don't have Wang's outstanding posture.
The ball I hit is bigger than a golf ball.
Naturally, I don't have Zeng Yani's temperament.
My ball is smooth and shiny without hair.
Naturally, I don't have Lu Yen-Hsun's shock and awe.
I don't move people too much because I don't have the ability to make people feel good.
That's why no one televised my World Championship match.
Because we don't belong to the high-level sports, it's hard to make people feel good.
Because we can't make it to the top, that's why I don't have the corporate sponsorships.

I don't want to be compared to anyone. I just want to have my own gym. Want to teach my own students. I want to teach more No. 1's in the world.
I just want everyone to know that.
Pool is not a bad thing.
Pool is not a bad thing.
I just want to make sure that more young people can build their dreams like I did.
I want to have my own path to follow.
I want to be a part of the world of sports.
I just want to make the world of pool bigger and brighter. I just want to do my part for the game when I still have the strength to play.

Let the world know, I come from Taiwan.
I want Taiwan to continue to be proud of me.
I want Taiwan to continue to be proud of pool!
Pick up your equipment and keep moving forward.
The road to my dream is still long.
I can only take it one step at a time.
One ball at a time.
Because I still have unfinished business.
Because I love billiards, because I love Taiwan!
I'm the world's No. 1 in pool. I'm Chang Jung-Lin."
 
Taxi said:
There's not much I can add to what's been said above. JL Chang was always one of my favorite players, with his methodical style and forever stoic demeanor. I'll never forget the time when he watched Shaw put a 5-pack on him to get to hill-hill in the hot seat match of 2016 U. S. Open, and then when Shaw missed a difficult long shot on the 3 ball in the deciding game, Chang came up to the table and calmly closed out the match. Ever since that match, I always made it a point to watch Chang at every opportunity.
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He made the ball after a timeout, then gestured to the crowd and everyone bust out laughing. Guy's sense of humor was very underrated. RIP.
 
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