Sruong Pheavy (35, Woori Financial Capital), known as the "Cambodian Express," defeated billiards queen Kim Ga-young (43, Hana Card) at the 2026-2027 professional billiards season "Citizens' Happiness Rest High1 Resort PBA-LPBA Championship" to reach her 10th career title.
Sruong lifted the championship trophy after beating Kim Ga-young 4-2 (11-5, 11-8, 6-11, 3-11, 11-8, 11-10) in the women's LPBA final held Friday at the Grand Hotel Convention Tower of High1 Resort in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province.
With the win, Sruong added to her tally for the first time in 10 months since capturing the 2025-2026 season NH NongHyup Card Charity Championship last August. She also fully cleared the disappointment of losing to Kim Ga-young in the final of the SY Verite Homme Championship last September. Sruong, who debuted in the LPBA in the 2020-2021 season, became the second player after Kim Ga-young (19 wins) to record double-digit wins. With the 40 million won winner's prize added, she also became the second player after Kim Ga-young (973.13 million won) to surpass 400 million won in career prize money, reaching 423.42 million won. Sruong holds an 8-5 record against her rival Kim Ga-young, who splits the LPBA between them, and a 3-2 record in finals.
Kim Ga-young, who had aimed for two straight wins to open the season following last month's Woori Financial Capital PBA Championship, will have to wait to surpass 20 career wins and 1 billion won in career prize money. Recording an average of 3.125 in the round of 64 against Ko Eun-kyung, she won the Welcome Top Ranking award (2 million won prize) given to the player with the highest average in a single match.
On the day, Sruong took the first and second sets to seize the early momentum while Kim Ga-young struggled early with scoreless innings in the fourth through sixth innings of the first set. Kim Ga-young, regaining her focus, won the third set and then easily took the fourth set 11-3 to bring the match back level. Sruong pulled ahead again at 3-2 in sets by taking the fifth set 11-8, then shook off Kim Ga-young's persistent pursuit in the sixth set to close out the match. With the score tied at 10-10, Kim Ga-young's scoring attempt was blocked by the misfortune of a kiss (collision), and Sruong calmly completed the remaining single point to savor the joy of victory.
Meanwhile, the men's PBA semifinals and final will be held Saturday. The winners of the semifinal matches between Kim Young-won (Harim) and Shin Jeong-ju (Hana Card), and between Kim Jun-tae (Harim) and Ngo Dinh Nai (Vietnam, Huons), will compete for the 100 million won winner's prize starting at 10:30 p.m.
