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 semi-final matchup, "The Empress" Kim Ga-young won 4-3 (11-10, 11-5, 3-11, 5-11, 6-11, 11-5, 11-@) against Kim Se-yeon (31, Huons) after a close match in the full set.

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.