Han Ji-eun VS Kim Ga-young of 'GOAT' Gwanrok, who is the winner of the 100 million prize money for 'Tongsan 3 wins and 3 losses'? [LPBA World Championship]

*This content was translated by AI.

Han Ji-eun (25, SY) met Kim Ga-young (43, Hana Card) on her first career championship stage. Shin Seong, who has never won a championship, and "Queen" Kim Ga-young, who won 17 times, were competing.

Han Ji-eun defeated Lee Woo-kyung (11-8, 11-6, 2-11, 6-11, 11-9, 11-10) in the semifinals of the "Hana Card Hana Capital LPBA World Championship" held at Halla Gymnasium in Jeju-si, Jeju-do, on the 14th.

Han Ji-eun, who has yet to win a championship since her debut on the PBA Tour in the 2023-2024 season, is once again on the final stage for the second time in her career.

Han Ji-eun, who won the crown Haitai Championship in the 2024-2025 season but lost in the full set to Kim Ga-young (Hana Card), once again showed a strong side in the world championship and took her first chance to win the LPBA.

Han Ji-eun, who reached the semifinals at the World Championship in her first season, reached the quarterfinals last year and this time reached the final stage. Han Ji-eun, who overpowered Choi Ji-min 3-1 in the first group match, beat Kim Ga-young 3-1 (11-7, 3-11, 11-6, 11-8) in the winner's match to advance to the round of 16.

In the round of 16, he beat Kim Sang-ah (Harim), who was the winner, 3-1 and in the quarterfinals, he defeated Han Seul-gi 3-0 to reach the semifinals. Lee Woo-kyung lost his concentration amid the fierce chase and lost the third set 2-11, and the fourth set 6-11.

He changed the flow again in the fifth set. Han Ji-eun, who went to the back, scored four consecutive innings to take a 6-0 lead. Lee Woo-kyung also tied the game by scoring six runs in five innings, but Han Ji-eun ran away with two runs in five innings, and when Lee Woo-kyung scored three points in seven innings to turn the game around, he immediately ended the set with three runs.

The sixth set was more intense. Han Ji-eun, who started with the first pitch, scored two points, but Lee Woo-kyung scored eight points through three innings, showing a deep loss. However, Lee Woo-kyung hit eight runs in six consecutive innings and reached the match point 10-8. In the 10th inning, Lee Woo-kyung had a golden opportunity after scoring two points, but when he failed to score, he immediately won the last point and ended the game.

In the second semifinal matchup, "The Empress" Kim Ga-young won 4-3 against Kim Se-yeon (31, Huons) after a close full set match.

Kim Ga-young, who caught Kim Jin-ah 3-2 in the group stage and was caught by Han Ji-eun in the winner's match, once again caught her teammate Kim Jin-ah 3-1 to reach the round of 16.

In the round of 16, he met Jung Soo-bin (NH Nonghyup Card), who had lost all three times, and finally won 3-1 and avenged himself, and in the quarterfinals, he reached the semifinals after winning a 3-0 shutout victory over Cha Yu-ram (Huons), who has been a rival since his days as a pocket ball player.

Kim Ga-young, who met Kim Se-yeon, the first world championship winner, won the first two sets like Han Ji-eun, but later struggled. Kim Ga-young, who gave up three sets down, then increased his concentration and led 5-2 from the beginning, leading the game to a full set in nine innings, and in the seventh set, he hit only the first three innings, but he drove nine runs in 4, 5, and 6 innings and ended the game by adding two runs in eight innings, which was chased 9-7.

Han Ji-eun and Kim Ga-young met six times in total and fought tightly with 3 wins and 3 losses. Kim Ga-young, who has reached the final in all six world championships, won three times and finished second twice. Kim Ga-young, who lifted the trophy in Jeju, and Han Ji-eun, who is trying to win her first career championship in the World Championship. The last one will be determined on the final stage (best of seven) from 4 p.m. on the 15th to see who will be ahead of the opponent with 100 million won in prize money.

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*This content was translated by AI.