'당구 여제' 김가영의 위대한 도전, 20승과 10억 원의 이정표를 향한 질주 > K-wave Trends

The performance Ga-young Kim is showing in this tournament is truly worthy of the word "overwhelming." She announced a smooth start from the Round of 128 with an average of 1.389, and in the Round of 64, she recorded a phenomenal average of 3.125, setting a new record as the 3rd highest in LPBA history. Although she faced a crisis in the Round of 32 against Yeon-ju Choi, going all the way to a shootout after a tight match, she proved the true mettle of a veteran by eventually securing the victory with focus that shines even brighter in times of crisis. This upward trend is proof that it is not merely luck, but the result of thorough self-management and analysis.

Her opponent in the Round of 16 was none other than her own student and talented player, Jung-hyun Park. Amidst the interesting dynamic of a teacher-student matchup, Kim displayed unwavering game management and secured a 3-0 shutout victory. In particular, her calm bank shot execution during the tight situations in the first and second sets and her sharp vision for reading the turning points of the match made us realize once again why she is called the "Empress." As a result, she recorded an overwhelming combined average of 1.402 up to the Round of 16, securing her spot in the quarterfinals as the top seed and smoothing her own path toward the championship.

The reason Ga-young Kim's current challenge is even more meaningful is that she is perfectly shaking off the painful slump she experienced at last year's High1 Resort Championship. At that time, she was caught by her nemesis Su-bin Jung in the Round of 32, forcing her to give up her dream of a second consecutive tournament win early, and her performance also fell short of expectations, bruising her pride. However, in this tournament, she has steeled her resolve from the very first match, executing precise shots and perfectly regaining her pace. Her fighting spirit to use past defeats as a stepping stone for growth and return to the top is a great inspiration to fellow players, and it is becoming a driving force that raises the level of professional billiards.

Her opponent in the quarterfinals will be Sang-ah Kim, and the clash between the two is expected to be another big match for billiards fans. The two haven't faced each other in about two and a half years; while Ga-young Kim leads the head-to-head record with 3 wins and 1 loss, Sang-ah Kim won their most recent encounter during the 6th tour of the 23-24 season, eliminating Ga-young Kim. Sang-ah Kim is also at the peak of her momentum in this tournament, having defeated strong players like Se-yeon Kim and Hyun-ji Yong, so a match where no complacency is allowed is expected. Whether Ga-young Kim can avenge her past defeat in these quarterfinals and safely cross the stepping stone toward her 20th win is the biggest point to watch in this tournament.

In addition to Ga-young Kim, other formidable players such as Sruong Pheavy, Mi-rae Lee, and Ga-yeon Jang have made it to the quarterfinals, signaling an intense competition. Sruong Pheavy is chasing Kim with a combined average of 1.178, ranking 2nd, and defending champion Mi-rae Lee is also sharpening her skills to defend her title. With the averages and conditions of each player so closely matched that it is difficult to distinguish superiority, a fierce battle where not a single mistake is tolerated will unfold from the quarterfinals onwards. Regardless of who the final winner is, this tournament is highly likely to produce legendary matches that will remain in LPBA history.