'NEW Star' Jang Ga-yeon defeats three-time champion Kang Ji-eun and advances to the Round of 16... '20s surge' Kang Jae-hyuk and Kim Hong-min reach the Round of 64 [PBA]

*This content was translated by AI.

'MZ generation' surge is sweeping through professional billiards PBA. In the women's division, Jang Ga-yeon (22, Woori Financial Capital) is preparing to make waves, while in the men's division, Kang Jae-hyuk (25) and Kim Hong-min (26) are ready to stir up a storm.

On the 6th, Jang Ga-yeon defeated three-time champion Kang Ji-eun (High1 Resort) in the LPBA Round of 32 at the 'National Happiness Rest Area High1 Resort PBA-LPBA Championship', the second tour of the 2026-2027 season, held at the Grand Hotel Convention Tower of High1 Resort in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do, with a set score of 3-0 (11-10, 11-1, 11-1).

Jang Ga-yeon, who joined the LPBA tour starting from the 2023-2024 season, achieved her best career results so far by reaching the Round of 8 in the opening match of her first season and at last season's High1 Resort Championship.

Although she was eliminated in the Round of 128 during the opening tour, this time she is just one step away from tying her personal best record.

After defeating Kim Ji-yeon 3 in the Round of 128 with a score of 20-15, Jang Ga-yeon improved her performance by beating Hwang Min-ji 24-11 in the Round of 64.

In the Round of 32, she decisively defeated Kang Ji-eun (High1 Resort), who boasts three championships, with a set score.

Jang Ga-yeon started by taking a 2-0 lead in the first set. Kang Ji-eun managed to take the lead by scoring 2 points in the 3rd inning and 4 points in the 4th inning, but Jang Ga-yeon steadily caught up, scoring 1 point in the 5th inning and 2 points in the 6th inning. Down 5-8 in the 8th inning, she scored 1 point and then hit a 5-point run in the 9th inning to ultimately win the first set by a narrow margin.

She then completely took control of the momentum. From the opening shots of the second set, Jang Ga-yeon scored 5 points straight away. After conceding 1 point in the 2nd inning, she scored the remaining 5 points in the 3rd inning to win the second set as well.

In the third set, Jang Ga-yeon scored 5 points from the first inning to build momentum. She added 2 points in the 4th inning, 1 point in the 6th inning, and 1 point in each inning starting from the 8th inning, ending the match in the 10th inning. Kang Ji-eun, who narrowly lost the first set, managed only 1 point in the third set and was defeated by Jang Ga-yeon, suffering the pain of elimination in the Round of 32.

In the Round of 16, she will face another champion, Choi Hye-mi (Welcome Savings Bank). They will clash on the 7th at 8 p.m. to advance to the Quarterfinals.

Defending champion Lee Mi-rae (High1 Resort), along with Yong Hyun-ji (Welcome Savings Bank), Kwon Bal-hae (SW), Han Seul-gi (Hana Card), Jeon Eo-ram, and Song Min-ji, also advanced to the Round of 16.

A '20s surge' was noticeable at the PBA on this day. 'Born in 2001' Kang Jae-hyuk (25) and 'Born in 2000' Kim Hong-min (26) defeated 'Vietnamese powerhouse' Ma Minh Gam (NH Nonghyup Card) and 'Influencer' Hacker, respectively, with set scores of 3-1.

Kang Jae-hyuk is a promising player who has consistently performed in the second and third divisions since the PBA's inaugural season. This season, he made his first-division debut through the Q School. Although he lost to David Martinez (Spain, Crown Haitai) in the opening match, he defeated the 'big fish' Ma Minh Gam on his second attempt.

On this day, Kang Jae-hyuk quickly took the first two sets with scores of 15-11 (15 innings) and 15-9 (12 innings), pushing hard. In the third set, he conceded a 12-point run to Ma Minh Gam and lost 2-15 in just 5 innings. However, he won the fourth set 15-12 (13 innings) after a close battle lasting 13 innings, securing his first victory in the first-division tour and advancing to the Round of 64.

Kim Hong-min defeated the billiards 'influencer' Hacker, who had been making headlines by repeatedly defeating PBA's top powerhouses. Kim Hong-min is a rookie who has already been recognized for his potential by reaching the Round of 8 in the 5th tour of the 2024-2025 season (Hyumone Championship). On this day, despite losing the first set 14-15 (9 innings), he won by taking the next three sets 15-8 (13 innings), 15-8 (9 innings), and 15-9 (15 innings).

'Youngest World Champion' Kim Young-won (19, Harim) also easily passed the first round by defeating Kim Jeong-hoon 2 with a set score of 3-0. '30s generation' Shin Jeong-ju (31, Hana Card), Kim Jun-tae (31, Harim), and Oh Tae-jun (NH Nonghyup Card, 34) also joined the Round of 64 by defeating Yu Chang-seon, Moon Ho-beom, and Gu Min-su, respectively.

Additionally, on the second day of the PBA Round of 128, Kang Dong-gung (Hyumone), David Saphata (Spain), Eom Sang-pil (both Woori Financial Capital), and Eddie Leffens (Belgium, High1 Resort) advanced to the Round of 64 stage.

With this, after top PBA players such as Jo Jae-ho (NH Nonghyup Card), Daniel Sanchez (Spain, Welcome Savings Bank), and Choi Sung-won (Hyumone) passed the first round on the first day of the Round of 128 held on the 5th, all participants for the Round of 64 have been determined.

On the 5th day of the tournament, the 7th, the PBA (men's division) Round of 64 will begin at 12:30 p.m. The LPBA Round of 16 matches will be held separately at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

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*This content was translated by AI.