Kim Young-won poses for a photo after becoming the youngest player to win a professional billiards match.
Kim Young-won (16), the youngest player in the Professional Billiards Association (PBA),
caused an upset by defeating defending champion Eddie Lepence (Belgium-SK Rent-a-Car).
Kim defeated Repons 3-1 in straight sets in the Round of 128 of the Huon’s PBA
Championship, the fifth leg of the Professional Billiards PBA-LPBA 2023-2024 Tour, on
Friday afternoon at the Kintex PBA Stadium in Goyang City, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.
Kim Young-won of the Dream (2nd) Tour, who entered the tournament as a wildcard,
became the youngest player to win in the PBA at the age of 16 years and 7 days with
the victory in only his third appearance in the 1st Tour.
After the match, Kim said, “I knew (Repons) was a strong player, but I thought he was
worth a shot. My experience playing against David Zapata and Jae Ho Cho in the last two tournaments helped me a lot.”
“I hope to do well in the rest of the Dream Tour and enter the first division next season,
and I’m looking forward to getting revenge against Zapata again in this tournament.”
In the day’s other Round of 128 matches, favorites such as David Zapata (Spain-Blue
One Resort) and Jo Jae-ho (NHK Card) won.
‘Korea’s No. 3 cushion’ Choi Sung-won (Huon’s) claimed his first individual tour victory
in five tournaments by defeating Rippy Chenette (Turkiye-High One Resort).
Other first round winners include Birole Wimaz (Turkiye-Welcome Savings Bank), Kim
Jae-geun, Kim Tae-kwan and Oh Tae-joon (Crown Hae-tae).
The round of 64 continues on Saturday at 2pm. 19가이드03
