1982 US Open 9-Ball Championship

Results

Place	Player	Prize
1	David Howard
2	Mike Zuglan

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

The 1982 US Open 9-Ball Championship took place from November 30th to December 4th at Q-Master Billiards in Virginia Beach. David Howard, known as Little David, won the tournament, defeating Mike Zuglan in the finals to claim his first US Open title and the $4,000 winner's prize.

Howard's victory came against a competitive field that included Steve Mizerak, Earl Strickland, Allen Hopkins, and Jimmy Reid. At 29 years old, Howard had established himself by defeating top players in both action matches and tournament competition.

Howard began playing pool seriously as a teenager, competing in gambling circles before moving into tournament play. He was known for strong fundamentals in nine-ball and consistent results in high-pressure matches.

Mike Zuglan from Rotterdam, New York finished as runner-up and received the $2,000 second-place prize. Jimmy Reid placed third with $1,000, and Willie Munson from Wisconsin took fourth place with $800. The prize pool reflected growing interest in professional nine-ball during this period.

Howard's 1982 victory established him among the top nine-ball professionals. He won another US Open title in 1986, further solidifying his status as a major championship competitor. The US Open had become the most prestigious nine-ball tournament since its modern inception in 1976.

Sources: Wikipedia US Open Championship

This recap was compiled from public tournament records and tournament organizer communications. ForceFollow is not affiliated with the tournament organizer.