“Jeong Soobin’s bid for a second consecutive title vs. Kim Ga-young’s quest for 20 wins”: Pro Billiards 5th Tour NH Nonghyup Card Championship Opens [PBA Tour]

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Can Kim Ga-young (43, Hana Card), the queen of billiards whose form has recently dipped, once again display her dominance and become the first player in professional billiards history to secure 20 wins? Or will Jeong Soobin (27, NH Nonghyup Card), who claimed his career’s first title, continue his upward momentum? Professional billiards enters its fifth tour of the season.

The Professional Billiards Association (PBA) will hold the “Jigeum Jal Saneun Bangbeop zgm NH Nonghyup Card PBA-LPBA Championship,” the 5th tour of the 2026-2027 professional billiards season, from the 18th to the 26th over nine days at the “Goyang KINTEX PBA Stadium” in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

In the women’s LPBA division, attention is focused on whether the momentum of players in their 20s will continue at this tournament. Jeong Soobin, who won the previous tour and is currently riding a high, will play her first Round of 128 match against the player ranked 26th to advance from the Q-round at 1:20 p.m. on the 19th. The fact that this tournament takes place immediately after she surpassed her own limits by winning the previous event further builds anticipation.

At the time of her victory, Jeong Soobin stated, “Honestly, winning seems incredibly difficult. Having experienced it this time, I realized that a lot of luck is required, or otherwise one’s skill must be overwhelmingly superior,” while also expressing her wish: “I can’t guarantee it, but I want to try for it once more this season.”

Park Jeong-hyeon (22, Harim), the winner of the 3rd tour, will face the player ranked 26th to advance from the Q-round in a Round of 128 match at 12:10 p.m. on the 19th.

Kim Ga-young, who is challenging again for her 20th career win, will face off against the player ranked 32nd to advance from the Q-round at 4:20 p.m. that day. Although she won the opening tournament, she had to settle for second place in the 2nd tour, a Round of 16 finish in the 3rd tour, and a Round of 8 appearance in the most recent event. “Cambodia’s Express,” Srong Pheavy (36, Woori Financial Capital), will vow to make a comeback against the player ranked 29th to advance from the Q-round at 7:50 p.m. on the 18th.

Both Kim Ga-young and Srong have winning experience this season, but players in their 20s have joined the ranks of champions based on rapid growth. It remains to be seen whether the momentum of young blood will hold the advantage or whether the experience of veterans will shine through once again.

In the men’s PBA division, attention is focused on whether the Vietnamese surge will continue. Nguyen Chan Thanh Tao (T. Nguyen) won the 3rd tour (S&Y Championship), and Nguyen Quoc Nguyen (Hana Card, Q. Nguyen) won the 4th tour (Crown Hite Championship), resulting in two consecutive victories by Vietnamese players in PBA tours. The recent performances of Vietnamese players stand out, including Ngo Dinh Nai (Huons), who finished as runner-up at the 2nd tour (High1 Resort Championship).

Q. Nguyen, the winner of the previous tour, will face Lee Yong-jae, who is participating via a wildcard, at 6:00 p.m. on the 21st. T. Nguyen, the winner of the 3rd tour, will meet Kim Jung-ho in the Round of 128 at 3:30 p.m. on the 21st, while Ngo will face Im Tae-dong at 3:30 p.m. on the 20th. Ma Min Kam (NH Nonghyup Card), who became the first Vietnamese player to win a PBA title, will clash with Jeong Hae-chang at 1:00 p.m. on the 20th.

Domestic players also vow to make a comeback at this tournament. “Korea’s representative powerhouse” Cho Jae-ho (NH Nonghyup Card) will face Kim Tae-ho at 11:00 p.m. on the 21st, while Kang Dong-gung will clash with Moon Ho-beom at 11:00 p.m. on the 20th. “The Gambler” Choi Sung-won (Huons) will meet Cho Byung-chan in the Round of 128 at 6:00 p.m. on the 21st, and Kim Young-won will face Cha Gwang-su in their first matchup at 6:00 p.m. on the 20th.

In addition, “Spain’s Legend” Daniel Sanchez (Welcome Savings Bank) will play against Park Nam-su at 11:00 p.m. on the 21st, and David Martinez (Spain, Crown Hite), the runner-up of the previous tour, will face Lee Chan-hyung at 1:00 p.m. on the 21st.

The “Jigeum Jal Saneun Bangbeop zgm NH Nonghyup Card PBA-LPBA Championship” begins with the Q-round at 11:00 a.m. on the 18th, followed by the first day of the LPBA Round of 128 schedule starting at 4:20 p.m. The second day of the LPBA Round of 128 matches will continue from 11:00 a.m. on the 5th, and the LPBA Round of 64 will begin at 3:30 p.m. on the 5th.

The tournament’s official schedule begins with the opening ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on the 20th. The LPBA final will be held at 10:00 p.m. on the 25th, and the tournament concludes with the PBA final, where a prize of 100 million won is at stake, at 9:00 p.m. on the final day, the 26th.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original