break, van boening has won the u.s.ed player of the decade. deaf since birth he wears hearing aids and shuts down any question this makes it harder for him to play pool. >> it's actually a bigger advantage for he. >> how is that? >> when i play a pool tournament i can just shut it a off. >> do you shut your hearing aids off when you play? >> when i won my first u.s. open,, everyrything ofoff. >>>> total sisilence. >> yeyes, i'm totally, 100% zon in. . >> reporteter: never more zonedn than in 2018 when he led the united states to victory over europe at the musconi cup, pool's answer to golf's rider cup. >> he is going for it. >> r reporter: he clososed it o with an off angle long distance combo, with a high risk, high reward preressure packed d shot >> what a shshot, shanene van boenining and teamm usa, unbelievable finish. >> reporter: think you could have made that shot? we went to rapid city, south dakota, a side pocket of america to van boening's pool hall where he explained that making balls disappear into pockets i