2023-06-09 14:06:39
Professional Billiards (PBA), which is in its 5th season this year since its launch in 2019. As the world’s top 3-cushion players gather, competition for the championship is expected to be fiercer than any other season.
Players who announced their entry into the PBA ahead of this season, such as ‘Four Kings’ Daniel Sanchez (SY), Korean 3-cushion veteran Lee Chung-bok (High1 Resort), and Korea Billiards Federation (KBF) ranking No. . It was at the ‘2023-24 season PBA Tour Opening Media Day’ held at the Seoul Press Center on the followingnoon of the 7th.
Sanchez is getting the most attention among the players joining the PBA this season. Sanchez is one of the world’s top 3 players along with Frederic Kudron (Belgium, Welcome Savings Bank), ‘Emperor’ Tobjorn Bromdal (Sweden), and ‘Human Tape Measure’ Dick Jaspers (Netherlands), who dominate the PBA during the World Carom Federation (UMB). He was called the 4th King of Cushion. He won 16 World Cups and 4 world championships.
On this day’s Media Day, Sanchez greeted fluently in Korean, “Hello, I’m Daniel Sanchez.” Sanchez is popular with his domestic fans, so there is no problem with his language communication as he has been doing business in Korea.
Regarding entering the PBA following five years of inception, Sanchez looked back, saying, “During the first season meeting, communication did not work properly, and at the time, uncertainty was high.” “But I wanted to make a change in a new stage, not in a comfortable environment,” he said. “I thought that now was the best time to challenge PBA.”
Regarding Kudron, who has won 7 championships, the most in PBA history, Sanchez said, “I’m a rival at the table, but I’m just a friend outside.” “Looking at last season’s rankings, Kudron, Cho Jae-ho (NH Nonghyup Card), David Martinez (Crown Haetae), Lee Chung-bok, and Choi Seong-won (Huons) all had the ability to become champions,” he said, “of course I might be.” He expressed his confidence.
Lee Choong-bok also made his name known by winning the 2007 Suwon World Cup with a surprise victory over reigning emperor Bromdal. Since then, in 2016, before the launch of the PBA, he won the LG U+ 3 Cushion Masters, which had the highest prize money at the time, and won the 2022 Vegel World Cup runner-up. Lee Choong-bok said, “I lost 8 kg following declaring my professional career,” and expressed his determination, “I will try to adapt to the PBA with my diet and sincerity that I have worked hard for 20 years.”
Han Ji-eun, who entered the PBA with the 1st place in the KBF women’s rankings, said, “The goal of the opening match is the semifinals,” but also expressed her spirit, saying, “I want to beat Min-ah Kim (NH Nonghyup Card), who has never beaten before the PBA.” Kim Min-a, who also came from KBF, rose to the top last year at the ‘Hana Card PBA Championship’ by beating ‘Cambodia Express’ Slong Piabi (Blue One Resort).
In addition to these, strong players have newly joined the PBA. Semi Seiginer (Turkiye, Huons), the ‘art ball master’, Choi Seong-won, the only Korean to win the world championship, and others.
The existing champions once morest these new forces have no intention of conceding the championship. Cho Jae-ho and Piabi, who took first place in the men’s and women’s rankings last season, are determined to defend themselves.
Jo Jae-ho said, “A lot of players with good skills have come in,” and “adaptation seems to be a matter of time.” At the same time, he defended, saying, “I was happy because I had unexpectedly good results last season, and I will try to continue that spirit this season as well.” He showed the confidence of a champion.
Cho Jae-ho won three gold medals last season, including the opening game of the regular tour, the final game, and the King of Kings match. He beat foreign strong players such as Kudron and became the first Korean player to reach the top of the season rankings.
Throng also won the opening match, the final match, and the King of Kings match, just like Jo Jae-ho last season. In particular, they reached the top spot for the second year in a row in the opening game, with their team, Blue One Resort, as the title sponsor. Throng expressed his strong aspirations, saying, “Since his debut, he has only won two victories in Gyeongju (Blue One Resort), but he will definitely win this opening game and become a true ‘Queen of Gyeongju’.”
This season begins with the ‘Gyeongju Blue One Resort PBA-LPBA Championship’ held at Blue One Resort in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on the 11th. The team league, in which nine teams compete, kicks off in August. It remains to be seen whether the new players will bring regarding a wave of strong change in the PBA, or whether the existing players will show off their spiciness.
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