Seo Han-sol (Blue One Resort), the next “beauty billiards star,” has reached the LPBA quarterfinals after a whopping three years and seven months.
In the round of 16 of the Crown Haetae LPBA Championship 2024 held at the Goyang Kintex PBA Stadium in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do, on March 23, Seo defeated Lee Shin-young in straight sets 2-0 (11-4, 11-3) to advance to the quarterfinals.
Meeting the reigning World Champion Lee, who became the LPBA’s highest-ranked round of 16 player in four tournaments, Seo rallied from a 5-4 deficit in the first set to win 11-4 with six ‘end-of-game high runs’ in the seventh game, and then took the second set 11-3 in nine games.
It’s his first quarterfinal in three years and seven months. Seo reached the quarterfinals in the opening event of the 2020-21 season (SK Rent-a-Car Championship), but has been in a slump since then. Despite several good tournaments, he hasn’t been able to break through the round of 16 barrier. However, after defeating Cha Yoo-ram in the first round (PPQ) of this tournament, he defeated Lim Kyung-jin and Lee Shin-young in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals. In the PQ round (second qualifying round), she continued her momentum against Han Soo-ah, recording the second highest average in LPBA history with a 2.273.
Seo, who was the ‘surprise runner-up’ in her first two tournaments of professional billiards (19-20), was talked about as much for her beauty as for her runner-up finish. Afterward, he helped the team win the PBA Team League, but he didn’t have much luck on the individual tour. After reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in three seasons, Seo will take on season No. 1 Ayako Sakai (Japan, Hanacard) at 7 p.m. on Thursday to advance to the last four.
In the other round of 16, defending tour champion and LPBA career wins 토토 leader (7), ‘Cambodian Express’ Surong Piavith (BLUEONE RESORT) defeated tournament sensation Jeon Ji-woo (20) 2-1 in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals.
Kim Min-young (BLUEONE RESORT) also pulled off an upset, defeating “Empress” Kim Ga-young (Hana Card) 2-1. Ayako Sakai defeated Im Mari 2-1, while Lim Jung-sook (Crown Haetae) swept Jang Hye-ri 2-0. Yong Hyun-ji (Hi One Resort), Kang Ji-eun (SK Rent-a-Car) and Kim Min-ah (NH Card) also advanced to the round of 16 with wins over Kim Se-yeon (Huons), Oh Do-hee and Kim Ye-eun (Welcome Savings Bank), respectively.
The LPBA quarterfinals on Thursday will begin with Kim Min-young-Kim Min-ah at 2 p.m., followed by Lim Jung-sook-Kang Ji-eun at 4:30 p.m., Seo Hansol-Ayako Sakai at 7 p.m., and Surong Piavi-Yong Hyun-ji at 9:30 p.m.