"Sis, do well" — From Round of 64 Elimination to a Direct Run to the Final: Kim Bo-mi Aims for First Title in "Fourth Time's the Charm"… Opponent Is Five-Time Champion Im Jeong-suk [PBA Tour]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Did the remark from close team teammate Jung Soobin (26) awaken Kim Bo-mi (27, NH Nonghyup Card)? After a somewhat disappointing run this season, Kim has advanced to her fourth final and is aiming for her first championship.

On the 24th, at the "Goyang KINTEX PBA Stadium" in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Kim defeated Lee Sun-young with a set score of 3-0 (11-3, 11-7, 11-10) in the LPBA semifinals of the fifth tour of the Pro Billiards 2026-2027 season, "The Way to Live Well Now zgm NH Nonghyup Card PBA-LPBA Championship," to advance to the final.

Kim Bo-mi, who ranks ninth on the LPBA career prize money list, was one of only two players in the top 15 without a title, alongside Han Ji-eun (S&Y, ranked 14th). Kim had always been cited as a title contender, which made the surrounding disappointment all the greater.

She has finished as runner-up three times and reached the semifinals 15 times. Therefore, her early exits in the Round of 64, Round of 128, and Round of 64 after reaching the quarterfinals in this season's opener left a particularly bitter taste. Jung Soobin, who won the previous tournament, directly addressed Kim in an interview immediately after her victory, saying, "Sis, do well." "I said that because I sincerely hope you win. You will win the next tournament," she added.

Was it the butterfly effect of Jung Soobin's words? Kim soared impressively at this tournament. After defeating former champion Kang Ji-eun (High1 Resort) in a full-set match in the Round of 16, Kim beat Kim Ga-young (Hana Card), who was challenging for her 20th career title, 3-1 in the quarterfinals.

The semifinal was even smoother. Kim took control early with a five-point break in the first inning of the first set, then scored four points in the third inning and two closing points in the fifth inning to lead 11-3. Riding her momentum, Kim came back from a 4-7 deficit in the seventh inning of the second set with consecutive scores of 2-1-4 to win 11-7 (9 innings), taking a 2-0 set lead.

The third set turned into a long battle. Both players were tied at four points through 10 innings. Although Kim added one point in the 11th inning, Lee Sun-young, who had the break, pulled away to 10-5 with consecutive scores of 3-1. However, Lee's scoring then stalled, and Kim scored three points in the 13th inning, two points in the 16th inning, and one point in the 17th inning to close out the match 11-10.

Kim Bo-mi's opponent in the final, where she challenges for her first LPBA title, is Im Jeong-suk. Im defeated Lee Mi-rae (High1 Resort) with a set score of 3-1 in the semifinal. She took the first set 11-7 (8 innings) and the second set 11-9 (12 innings) to quickly build a 2-0 set lead. Although Lee Mi-rae won the third set 11-10 (13 innings) to mount a comeback, Im won the fourth set 11-5 (12 innings) to secure her spot in the final.

Im Jeong-suk, who has won a total of five titles including three in the LPBA's inaugural season, reached the final for the first time in two years and eight months since the eighth tour of the 2023-2024 season (Welcome Savings Bank Welbang Championship). After failing to advance past the Round of 128 in the last three consecutive tournaments, Im showed a changed demeanor at this event to reach the final.

The LPBA final will be held on the 25th at 10 p.m., best of seven. The championship prize money is 40 million won.

In the PBA Round of 16 held concurrently that day, top contenders fell. "Hulk" Kang Dong-gung (Huons) lost to Cho Don-hwi (Welcome Savings Bank), with whom he once shared a locker at SK Rent-a-Car, with a set score of 0-3. After taking the first set 15-5 (6 innings), Cho came from behind to win the second set 15-13 (10 innings) from a 3-10 deficit, and also took the third set in a close finish 15-14 (8 innings) to advance to the quarterfinals.

"Rising Star" Kim Young-won (Haram) also lost to Lee Sang-dae (Woori Financial Capital) with a set score of 1-3. With the set score tied at 1-1, Lee took the third set by a narrow margin of one point, 15-14 (12 innings), and then won the fourth set 15-10 (8 innings) to advance to the quarterfinals.

In addition, David Martinez (Spain, Crown Hite), Lee Chung-bok (High1 Resort), Antonio Montes (Spain, Breakers), Lee Seung-jin (Breakers), Kim Nam-soo, and Jan Chapak (Turkey) made the list of quarterfinalists.

The PBA quarterfinals will begin at 12 p.m. on the 25th. The schedule starts with the Montes-Chapak match at 12 p.m., followed by Lee Sang-dae vs. Kim Nam-soo at 2:30 p.m., Cho Don-hwi vs. Lee Seung-jin at 5 p.m., and Martinez vs. Lee Chung-bok at 7:30 p.m.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original