1994 WPBA US Open 9-Ball Championship

Results

Recap

Published April 13, 2026

The 1994 WPBA US Open 9-Ball Championship at the Norfolk Marriott Chesapeake in Virginia took place September 16-18, 1994, with Jeanette Lee winning her first major title. The tournament featured top women professionals competing for one of billiards’ most prestigious championships.

Lee defeated veteran Ewa Mataya Laurance in the final. Lee, known by the nickname the Black Widow, advanced through the tournament to face Mataya Laurance, who held multiple major titles including the 1992 U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship. Lee’s semifinal victory came against Robin Bell.

The final matched an established champion against an emerging talent. Lee began playing pool seriously in 1989 after watching pro George Makula at Chelsea Billiards in Manhattan. The Brooklyn-born Korean-American had left college to pursue pool full-time, supporting herself through nannying and waitressing to afford table time.

Lee’s victory was a significant achievement in women’s professional billiards. She defeated Mataya Laurance to establish herself as a major championship contender. The victory launched a career that eventually included World Games gold in 2001 and made her one of American pool’s most recognizable figures.

The 1994 championships in Chesapeake showcased women’s professional pool during the WPBA’s competitive era. The men’s US Open, held at the same event, was won by Efren Reyes over Nick Varner. The concurrent tournaments highlighted top talent across both professional tours.

Sources: Jeanette Lee Wikipedia

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