Jang Ga-yeon, another champion defeated; 'Challenge for 1 billion won prize' Kim Ga-young, both advance to quarterfinals... Kang Dong-gung and Kim Jun-tae clash in 32nd round [PBA]

*This content was translated by AI.

Jang Ga-yeon (22, Woori Financial Capital) defeated consecutive champions once again, successfully advancing to the quarterfinals, her personal best. She now sets her sights on the semifinals, a stage she has never yet reached.

On the 7th, Jang Ga-yeon defeated Choi Hye-mi (Welcome Savings Bank) with a set score of 3-1 (11-8, 7-11, 11-7, 11-6) in the LPBA Round of 16 at the Grand Hotel Convention Tower of High1 Resort in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do, held as part of the 2025-2026 Professional Billiards Tour's second tour, "National Happiness Rest Stop High1 Resort PBA-LPBA Championship."

Since joining the LPBA Tour in the 2023-2024 season, Jang Ga-yeon's best career result was reaching the quarterfinals in the opening match of her first season and at last season's High1 Resort Championship. One more step would allow her to break her personal best record.

After defeating Kim Ji-yeon3 in the Round of 128 with scores of 20-15 and Hwang Min-ji in the Round of 64 with 24-11, Jang Ga-yeon completely defeated Kang Ji-eun (High1 Resort), a three-time champion, with a 3-0 sweep in the Round of 32.

This time, she faced another champion, Choi Hye-mi, and fought tenaciously to secure the victory. In the first set, Jang Ga-yeon started nervously with four consecutive empty innings while Choi Hye-mi scored six points. Starting with her first score in the fifth inning, she scored one point in the seventh inning and four points in the eighth inning to close the gap to 6-7. From the 12th inning, she recorded 2-2-1 points and secured the victory in the 14th inning.

In the second set, although she succeeded in scoring early, Choi Hye-mi scored six points in the first inning and maintained the lead, resetting the match.

In the third set, Jang Ga-yeon, trailing 3-7, scored eight points from the sixth inning to win the set again. In the fourth set, she scored eight points from the ninth inning after trailing 3-5, ending the match in the 12th inning. Her average was 0.909.

In the Round of 16, she will face Kwon Bal-hae (SW), who experienced a runner-up finish. Kwon Bal-hae advanced by defeating Song Min-ji 3-0 in the Round of 16. The match will be held at 8 p.m. today.

Kim Ga-young (Hana Card), known as the "Empress" challenging for the first cumulative prize money of 1 billion won in the women's division, defeated her former student Park Jeong-hyun (Harim) 3-0 (11-10, 9-11, 11-6). Park Jeong-hyun also pressured Kim Ga-young fiercely with an average of 1.190, but Kim Ga-young posted the highest average of the Round of 16 at 1.435 to advance to the quarterfinals. She will compete with Kim Sang-a (Harim), who advanced by defeating Yong Hyun-ji 3-0, for a spot in the semifinals.

Slong Piabi (Woori Financial Capital) defeated Han Seul-gi (Hana Card) 3-1, Lee Mi-rae (High1 Resort) defeated Ha Yun-jeong 3-0, N. Nguyen (Vietnam) defeated Im Kyung-jin 3-1, and Seo Han-sol (Hyumons) defeated Jeon Eo-ram 3-0. The quarterfinal matchups were set: Kim Ga-young vs. Kim Sang-a, Slong vs. Seo Han-sol (both at 3 p.m.), Jang Ga-yeon vs. Kwon Bal-hae, and Lee Mi-rae vs. N. Nguyen (both at 8 p.m.).

In the men's division, a Round of 32 clash between "Korea's 3-cushion representative" Kang Dong-gung (Hyumons) and "next-generation ace" Kim Jun-tae (Harim) took place. In the Round of 64, Kang Dong-gung defeated Kim Hyun-seok1 with a set score of 3-0, and Kim Jun-tae defeated No Byung-chan (Crown Hae Tae) 3-1.

Kang Dong-gung dominated with sharp performance, defeating Kim Hyun-seok1. Leading with a high run of seven points in the first set, he won 15-7 (6 innings). He also won the second set 15-4 (11 innings), taking a 2-0 lead in sets. Kang Dong-gung completed the 3-0 set victory by winning the third set 15-7 (5 innings).

Kim Jun-tae quickly built a two-set lead, winning the first set 15-9 (9 innings) and the second set 15-13 (10 innings) against No Byung-chan. Although he lost the third set 3-15 (6 innings), he finished the match with a decisive 15-2 victory in just four innings of the fourth set.

Kang Dong-gung and Kim Jun-tae, who both won in the Round of 64, will clash in the Round of 32. Kim Jun-tae leads the head-to-head record with one win. The two players faced each other in the Round of 16 at the season-opening match (Woori Financial Capital Championship), where Kim Jun-tae won with a set score of 3-1. Although Kim Jun-tae won, both players recorded averages in the 2nd-point range, showcasing a tight match. Their rematch will take place at 10:30 p.m. on the 8th.

Many of the "PBA's top contenders" also advanced to the Round of 32. Jo Jae-ho (NH Agribank Card) defeated Jang Nam-guk 3-0. Daniel Sanchez (Spain·Welcome Savings Bank), the "defending champion" of the High1 Resort Championship, won 3-0 against Park In-su. "Youngest World Champion" Kim Young-won (Harim) also won 3-1 against Kim Ki-hyeok. Choi Sung-won (Hyumons), who defeated Im Tae-su 3-0, will face Lee Chung-bok (High1 Resort) in the Round of 32.

On the 8th, the sixth day of the tournament, the PBA Round of 32 and LPBA Round of 8 will be held. The PBA Round of 32 begins at 12:30 p.m., with LPBA Round of 8 matches at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.

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*This content was translated by AI.