SEOUL - 24-year-old Korean Mi-rae Lee has scored her third consecutive victory in the women's cycle of PBA tournaments. In the last lap of the 2020/2021 season, in the fifth tournament, three years older (27) Su-jung Oh was defeated 3-2 (11-7, 4-11, 11-8, 4-11 and 9-6 in sets) after an enthralling battle. The winner had exactly 1,000 on average, the losing finalist 1,132. Mi-rae Lee played with a shoulder and an arm injury after a car accident in the past.
With this third win in a row and fourth win in two seasons, Mi-rae Lee is the big earner of the women's PBA. Three victories earned her 3x 15,000 is 45,000 Euros. This brought her total for this year to 58,500 Euros. The averages in this tournament were far below the level of her previous victories. In the knockout Mi-rae Lee played 0.688, 0.730, 1.000 and 1.000.
More than ever, the current UMB world champion, Therese Klompenhouwer, was linked to a transfer to the PBA in these recent days. However, there is no chance for that so far. Therese reacted in a short interview: ''When I see it, and when I hear about the money, then it tickles, of course. I have been asked many times this week why I am not switching. And I spoke to them in the LPBA at the end of last season. But for me is not only about money. With COVID-19 now, they play a lot of events in Korea and you have to be away from home for a long time. So, it is a certain 'lifestyle', especially if you have to go alone.''
Besides that, Therese Klompenhouwer thinks, ''I appreciate what I have now, for example with the invitations of the Five&Six tournaments. I have played two events now and I was invited for two more this year. I will certainly accept them. What happens in the future, I cannot say. So, I certainly will exclude a possible move to the LPBA one day. But for now, I am satisfied as it is now.''
The 24-year-old Korean player Mi-rae Lee, who Therese knows from two World Championships and the New York tournament at Carom Cafe, switched to the professional organization at the start of the PBA adventure in 2019. As a young player (when she was 16 in 2012), Mi-rae Lee already won a tournament in Seoul. Four years later, she finished second at the UMB Women's World Championship twice in a row: in 2016 in Korea following Therese Klompenhouwer, in 2017 following Orie Hida in Zoersel, Belgium. At those two World Championships, the huge Korean talent still succumbed to the pressure. In the PBA, she turned out into a real winner with victories in the last three finals against Ga-young Kim, Su-ah Park and in this last LPBA tournament before the Final Tour against Su-jung Oh. Sixteen players have qualified for the final round.
The losing finalist was on the PBA stage for the first time, having only started playing billiards in 2016. In her younger years, Su-jung Oh belonged to Korea's national cycling team, but an injury forced her to cancel the pre-selection for the Olympic team. Two years ago, Oh made a rapid breakthrough in three cushion with the national Korean title. With that victory, Oh switched to the LPBA.
The Mi-rae Lee interview after the final match:
Can you tell us how you feel after winning three consecutive tournaments?
Mi-rae Lee: I never expected to win three times in a row. I am proud of myself, because I did well as soon as I finished my studies. So, I am very happy.
How did you manage to do this when you had a shoulder injury?
Mi-rae Lee: My shoulders and foreare muscles were not very good. I was worried and depressed, because my arm felt numb in some situations. However, billiards is a sport, where offense and defense coexist. If I cling to the fact that I didn't show any good performance, there are times when I give up the ball. It was good to play strategically with both offense and defense.
What causes shoulder and forearm pain?
Mi-rae Lee: Previously, I had wrist pain due to elbow tunnel syndrome. Apart from that, after the car accident, my bak began to hurt and my arm hurt. I think it's the aftereffect of the car accident.
You had a tough match with Seo Han Sol in the round 16. How did you overcome the crisis?
Mi-rae Lee: The 16 round is dizzying even now. At that time, I was not aware of the problem with my forearm muscles. I was embarrassed when I couldn't hit the side-angle shot, but I didn't miss the balls that came easily. And I seem to have overcome it. After finding out the cause, I played the game while massaging and taping, so I overcame it well.
How was the situation when several blank innings in the final?
Mi-rae Lee: I thought there was a situation that I could finish, but it was the least confident side-angle shot. I played when calling 'time-out', but unfortunately, I missed it. I hit the ball, as I hoped for Su-jung Oh to not leave an easy bank shot, because she played it very well.
You met Sruong Pheavy in your group in the round 64. How do you feel about that match?
Mi-rae Lee: I think it was a game in which Sruong Pheavy did not show all her skills. I didn't feel anything, just wanted to reach the knock-outs.
How will you prepare for the World Championship?
Mi-rae Lee: I won my first championship this season and was planning to manage my condition according to the final schedule. But I also did well in the two games between them. Rather than feeling burdened or wanting to do better. I plan to play at the World championship with the idea of showing all the performance that I can. Then, I think I will win.
The results of the fifth tournament for ladies this season:
1 Mi-rae Lee
2 Su-jung Oh
3 Ga-young Kim
3 Jung-mi Kim
The two final players, Mi-rae Lee and Su-jung Oh
Mi-rae Lee, three PBA victories in a row