GOYANG - Japanese Ayako Sakai has won her second LPBA tournament this year in Goyang. In the final, she defeated the debutante in the final, Hye-Won Im, 4-1 in sets this Wednesday. Ayako Sakai (46), former UMB player, climbs to the top of the women's rankings after that victory. The Japanese has now earned more than 54 million Korean won (about 40,000 euros). Two months ago, Ayako Sakai also won her first tournament in a final against Min-a Kim. This week she first defeated Se-yeon Kim, former PBA world champion, 3-0 (1.571 average). The other finalist was Hye-won Im, who reached the final for the first time after beating Jung-Mi Kim 3-1 (0.778/0.500). In the final, Ayako Sakai prevailed after losing the first set 11-8, 11-2, 11-3 and 11-9.
After her second win in the PBA (Women's LPBA), Ayako Sakai tops the rankings ahead of multi-winner Ga-young Kim, Min-a Kim, Min-joo Baek and Sruong Pheavy, who is sixth. The women's tournament was played at the Kintex PBA stadium, where the men's semi-finals and final will take place tomorrow.
In her earlier career, Ayako Sakai stood on the podium three times at the UMB as third at a World championship. That was twice after Orie Hida, once after Therese Klompenhouwer. The Japanese is married to the billiards player Nobuyasu Sakai, who was third once at an Artistic World championship and played for Japan three times at the World Three-cushion Championship for nation teams in Viersen. Together they have two boys aged 11 and 8. “My children and husband always support me, they are very kind to me.”
The winner continued to say afterwards that she is grateful for all the people who support her. "I can't do this alone, it's wonderful how they sympathize. My husband, my boys, the billiard hall’s staff, the customers, cue maker Adam Japan, Mr. Naori from Tap and the people from Hana Card, the sponsor and my team members. And finaly Orie Hida, my rival and great friend for many years."
In the men's semi-finals of the PBA, Eddy Leppens will play against Dong-woo Han and Antonio Montes against Jae-ho Cho on Thursday.
The two final players, Ayako Sakai (r) and Hye-won Im