"Everything for my wife": 100 million won prize money and an SUV electric vehicle, even his personality changed — the thrilling third victory of 'lover' Jo Geon-hwi [PBA]

*This content was translated by AI.

He even changed his previously sensitive personality. His only hobby is going out with his wife, and he even thinks of injuries as a gift for her.

Jo Geon-hwi (34, Welcome Savings Bank) defeated Jo Jae-ho (46, NH Nonghyup Card) in a full-set battle in the PBA finals of the 'Woori Financial Capital PBA-LPBA Championship,' the opening tour of the 2026-2027 professional billiards season, held on the 24th at the 'Goyang KINTEX PBA Stadium' in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, securing a comeback victory with a set score of 4-3 (12-15, 3-15, 15-4, 15-12, 15-12, 12-15, 11-4).

Following the 8th tour of the 2024-2025 season (Welcome Savings Bank Championship), he once again defeated Jo Jae-ho and lifted his third trophy after a year and three months. The winning prize money is 100 million won. His cumulative prize money totals 495.5 million won, jumping from 9th to 6th place in the prize money rankings. With this victory, Jo Geon-hwi shed the regret of finishing as runner-up in the last tournament of the previous season, the King of Kings (Hana Card Hana Capital Jeju Special Self-Governing Province PBA World Championship).

The 'Welcome Top Ranking' (prize money 0.4 billion won), awarded to the player with the highest average in a single match, was won by Lee Tae-hui-ga (수상), who recorded an average of 3.462 against Go Sang-woon in the round of 128.

In the early stages of the finals, Jo Jae-hwi took the lead in the first two sets. After scoring two points on his first attack, Jo Jae-ho steadily accumulated points and took the initiative after a long 19-inning match, winning 15-12. In the second set, appearing to have warmed up, he built a 4-3 lead in just three innings, including three bank shots, and scored an 11-point high run, winning 15-3 in only three innings and extending the gap to a 2-0 set score.

Jo Geon-hwi, who was facing a heavy defeat, launched a dramatic counterattack. Leading 5-3 after three innings, Jo Geon-hwi scored seven points in the fifth inning to reach 12-4, then added the remaining three points in the sixth inning to win 15-4. In the fourth set, even while trailing 5-12 after eight innings, he added a lucky shot and scored a 10-point high run to win 15-12, tying the set score at 2-2.

Jo Geon-hwi, who won two consecutive sets, continued his momentum and reached the fifth set, closing in on the championship. Starting with five points on the opening break, Jo Geon-hwi steadily accumulated points until the eighth inning, excluding one empty inning, and reached 15 points in just eight innings. Jo Jae-ho managed only 12 points, allowing Jo Geon-hwi to take a 15-12 lead and extend his set score advantage to 3-2.

Jo Jae-ho, now facing defeat, succeeded in mounting a comeback. Holding the first attack in the sixth set, Jo Jae-ho was down 9-12 after seven innings but scored a 6-point high run in the eighth inning to win 15-12, forcing the match into a seventh set. However, Jo Jae-ho's attempt at a reverse shot failed in a 4-3 situation after four innings, resulting in a missed long shot connection. Jo Geon-hwi did not allow any further opportunities, scoring a 7-point high run including a bank shot to finish the match 11-4, successfully achieving a 4-3 comeback victory.

Jo Geon-hwi said, "I am so happy. It's great that I reached the finals from the season opener after the World Championship last season. I am also very happy about the injury award." He added, "I still need to practice more and develop further. I didn't realize certain things when my condition was good, but I struggled with mental focus when my condition was poor. I realized that while it is important to succeed in attacks, it is even more important to hit the ball while thinking about the next setup."

He achieved a dramatic victory from a 0-2 deficit. Jo Geon-hwi shared the secret to the thrilling comeback: "Until I shake hands with the opposing player after every match, I think, 'I don't know what the result will be.' Even in this finals match, when we were down 0-2, I played with the mindset of holding on until the very end."

He even changed his personality to keep himself in check. The biggest reason was the presence of his wife. "In the past, I was very hot-tempered. But I felt that such a personality was not good for me. Of course, I am human and an athlete, so I get stressed when I lose, but I try to forget it within five minutes. Thinking too deeply about it is not good," he said. "There was a period when I became very sensitive due to matches. I felt that my wife and the people around me were suffering a lot. That's when I decided to change my personality. I still have moments like that, but I try to forget them quickly."

He plans to give the 100th million won winning prize money and the one-year usage right for a mid-size electric SUV received as an injury award to his wife. Jo Geon-hwi showed his loving side, saying, "I plan to give everything to my wife. I already have a car, so I plan to give the injury award to my wife as well. My wife's commute between work and home is far. I want to make it easier for her to travel."

He has little desire for himself. "I am always at the billiard hall, so I don't really need new clothes. I liked luxury brands when I was young, but not anymore," he said. "I am always at the practice range, and chalk dust gets on my clothes, so I need dry cleaning every time. I think cheap clothes are better. These days, I don't spend much money at all."

His hobbies are also things he does with his wife. "I wake up in the morning, exercise, and if I go to the practice range at 10 o'clock, I come home at 9 o'clock at night. When I get home, I wash up, lie down, and watch Netflix to end my day," he said. "Except for going out with my wife occasionally, I stay at home."

Ahead of the season, he moved to a new team, Welcome Savings Bank. Jo Geon-hwi said, "I am happy that Welcome Savings Bank picked me. The team color is red, which seems to suit me well." He added, "I will work as hard in the team league as I do in the individual tour. Now that I have changed teams, I will do my best alongside Daniel Sanchez (Spain), Semi Signer (Turkey), and Kim Jong-won."

He appears to be back on track, having reached the finals in two consecutive tournaments. Jo Geon-hwi said, "I tried to do what I normally do. I didn't practice much more than usual just because it was a match; I tried to do things as I normally do. I exercised in the morning and continued billiard practice in the afternoon as usual. My body got used to that process, so there was less pressure. I have adopted the mindset of 'practice like the real thing, and the real thing like practice.'" Regarding his goals for this season, he stated his determination: "I will win one more time (laughs). I aim to win in the latter part of the tournament."

With the 2026-2027 season opening tour concluded, PBA will hold the second tour of the season, 'National Happiness Rest High1 Resort PBA-LPBA Championship,' for nine days starting from the 3rd of next month in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province.

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*This content was translated by AI.