GOYANG, South Korea — Billiards "Queen" Kim Ga-young (Hana Card) is keeping her dual title defense and winning streak ambitions alive. The reigning champion of the Crown Haitai PBA-LPBA Championship Hangawi advanced to the semifinals of the Ladies Professional Billiards Association (LPBA) tournament, securing her spot with a decisive victory over Kim Ye-eun (Welcome Savings Bank).
The quarterfinals, held on October 3 at the PBA Stadium in Kintex, Goyang City, saw Kim Ga-young defeat Kim Ye-eun by a set score of 3-1. The match was part of the 2025-2026 season's fifth tour, the Crown Haitai PBA-LPBA Championship Hangawi.
A Dominant Performance
Kim Ga-young got off to a blistering start, claiming the first set in just seven innings and the second set in a lightning-fast three innings, showcasing the precision and speed that have defined her career. Though Kim Ye-eun mounted a brief comeback, rallying from a 6-10 deficit to take the third set 11-10 in the eighth inning, Kim Ga-young quickly sealed the deal. She opened the fourth set with a high run of 9 points, ultimately winning 11-0 in three innings and securing her semi-final berth.
The victory keeps Kim Ga-young, the defending champion of the Hanagawi tournament, on track to secure her second consecutive title at this event. Furthermore, following her win in the 4th Tour's SY Vérité Homme Championship, she is also chasing her second consecutive tour victory of the season, a feat that would cement her dominance.
LPBA Season Ranking Battle Heats Up
The pursuit of the championship title carries significant weight for the season's overall rankings. Kim Ga-young, who currently has KRW 85.5 million in prize money for the 2025-2026 season, is poised to reclaim the top spot on the seasonal prize money leaderboard.
Her main rival, the 'Cambodian Special Express' Sruong Pheavy (Woori Financial Capital), was eliminated in the Round of 32 but currently leads the standings with KRW 91.7 million. If Kim Ga-young reaches the final, the minimum runner-up prize money of KRW 10 million will push her seasonal total to KRW 95.5 million, surpassing Sruong and taking over the No. 1 ranking.
In the semi-finals, Kim Ga-young will face Lee Mi-rae (High1 Resort), who defeated Kim Jung-mi in her quarterfinal match. The other semi-final will feature a contest between Kim Se-yeon (Huons) and Lim Kyoung-jin (High1 Resort), setting the stage for an intense conclusion to the LPBA event.
Meanwhile, the men's PBA tournament saw Cho Jae-ho (NH Nonghyup Card), David Martinez (Spain, Crown Haitai), and Eddy Leppens (Belgium, SK Rent-a-Car) advance to the Round of 16 in their respective 32-player matches.
The action continues today, the seventh day of the tournament, with the PBA Round of 16 commencing at 12:00 PM and the LPBA semi-finals following at 2:30 PM KST.
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