SEOUL - Japan's Ayako Sakai, mother of two boys, scored her first victory in an LPBA tournament this week. With her first win, she earned 30 million Korean won, 22,000 euros. In the final of the SY Bazzar tour, Sakai defeated Korean Min-a Kim 4-2 after trailing 1-0, averaging 0.918/0.767. In her previous career, the Japanese lady was third at a World UMB Championship podium three times, twice under the name Ayako Maehara (2004, 2006, winner Orie Hida), later after her marriage to a former PBA player as Ayako Sakai (winner Therese Klompenhouwer in 2019).
Ayako Sakai was the third Japanese lady player in LPBA's short history to win a tournament following Orie Hida and Natsumi Higashiuchi. Sakai herself had been close to the podium a few times, now she finally grabbed the top prize. That filled Ayako with great joy during the homage, where she thanked the event sponsor and her own sponsors, among others, and let her husband and two sons, who were at home in Japan, share in the joy.
The last part of the final was dominated by Ayako Sakai, who won the final sets 11-0, 11-8 and 11-6. Before that, in the semi-finals, Sakai beat the relatively unknown Da-som Park 3-1. Min-a-Kim eliminated a big favorite, Ga-young Kim, 3-1. In the round of 16, Sakai shone against Bo-mi Kim 3-2, Min-a Kim triumphed against Hyun-ji Yong 3-1. The later winner also eliminated Jung-suk Lim. Sruong Pheavy was thrown out of the tournament in the round with the last 32 by Yeun-ju Choi.
The prize for the best game went to Sruong Pheavy with 2,273.
The men started the PBA tournament today, Tuesday. Among the first results, Can Capak's win against Murat Naci Coklu was notable. Duc Anh Chien and Birol Uymaz were eliminated in the first round with 128, Lütfi Cenet, Eddy Leppens, Dong Koong Kang and Nguyen Quoc Nguyen (with penalties) advanced to the next round with 64.
Ayako Sakai, first victory in LPBA