Jung wins on second final appearance
Takes home 40 million won in prize money
Women's professional billiards player Jung Su-bin (NH NongHyup Card) claimed her first career title four years after turning professional.
Jung defeated Lee Mi-rae in the final of the 2026-2027 season's fourth-tour Crown Haitai LPBA Championship at the PBA Stadium in Kintex, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Sunday, winning by a set score of 4-2 (11-1, 11-10, 10-11, 11-7, 8-11, 11-5).
Jung, who made her debut in the third tour of the 2022-2023 season, captured her first professional title four years and one month after turning pro. The win also erased the sting of her runner-up finish at last season's ninth-tour Welcome Savings Bank Championship, her first final appearance. With the 40 million won ($29,900) prize, Jung vaulted in the season rankings from 25th to third.
Despite her relatively short career, Jung has shown rapid improvement and drawn attention as a next-generation LPBA star. She received the Young Star Award at the PBA Golden Cue Awards last season, and her championship win on her second final appearance has cemented her reputation as a player with both talent and star quality.
Jung dominated Lee from the outset of the final. She took the first set 11-1 in just four innings, then edged a tight second set 11-10 to seize control. Lee fought back in the third, rallying from 3-10 down to win 11-10. But Jung took the fourth set 11-7, leaving herself just one set away from the title.
Lee pulled the fifth set 11-8 to cut the deficit to 3-2, but the sixth set proved decisive. Jung raced out to an 8-1 lead in just three innings, opening with two bank shots. She then converted a side-cushion shot in the 10th inning to close out the set 11-5 and seal the championship.
Reflecting on her victory, Jung said she had often wondered whether she could reach the top. "I used to think a lot — 'Can I really do this? When will I ever get to a high place?' — but I kept practicing harder in anticipation of a moment like this," she said. She added that she still has much to improve. "I've won, but I still have so many shortcomings. I'm still working on building up the fundamentals."
Lee, who won the Hi One Resort Championship last season for her first title in about five years, fell short in her bid for a sixth career victory and settled for the runner-up finish.
The Welcome Top Ranking prize of 2 million won, awarded to the player with the highest average in the tournament, went to Ha Yun-jeong, who posted an average of 2.500 in the round of 128.
Meanwhile, the men's PBA Championship holds its semifinals and final on Monday. David Martinez of Spain and Jo Geon-hwi meet in the first semifinal at 12:30 p.m., followed by Nguyen Quoc Nguyen of Vietnam and No Jong-hyun, who face off for a spot in the final at 3:30 p.m.
The two winners will then meet in the final at 9 p.m. Monday, with 100 million won on the line.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
