Semih Sayginer a royal winner in PBA finals

SEOUL - The Turkish prince has himself crowned a royal winner in the PBA finals. Semih Sayginer, in his 60th year, became the best of the Korean PBA final event in Seoul after winning the Turkish final against Lütfi Cenet: 4-1. The sublime series of six wins in the PBA World Championship earned the winner 140,000 euros. The women's final win went to multi-winner Ga-young Kim, best player in all LPBA tournaments this season. Semih Sayginer, for his third year in the PBA after his rumored switch from UMB, won a PBA tour once before in 2024. He was the first Turkish winner of the final tournament (World championship) in the PBA following Frédéric Caudron, David Zapata, David Martinez, Dong Koong Kang and Jae-ho Cho. Not the Koreans or Spaniards ruled the podium this year, but the Turks. Lütfi Cenet became an excellent No 2, Murat Naci Coklu and Burak Hashas also made it to the final tournament with 32 players. Spain's top players Sánchez, Zapata and Martinez were eliminated in the preliminary rounds.

In the final between the two Turks, Lütfi Cenet won the first set 15-1, then Sayginer seized power 15-2, 15-5, 15-8 and 15-7 with a highest run of 10. The averages were 2.250 and 1.423. Sayginer finished over two average in almost all his performances: 2,111 against Hashas, 2,000 against Kang, 2,000 against Jong won Kim, 2,320 against Montes and in the semi-final 1,593 against Kang. The match against Montes gave the most excitement: 3-2 and 2,320/2,208 on averages.

In the ladies, Ga-young Kim won the final against Min-a Kim 4-1, averaging 1,317. The Korean winner of seven tournaments this season (14 in total) earned 238,000 euros this season and 474,000 euros in her entire career. In the semi-finals of this World championship, Ga-young Kim defeated Cambodian Sruong Pheavy 4-0, average 1.073.

Semih Sayginer, who also took the world title once at UMB, showed himself a great entertainer and showman during the tribute and closing ceremony. In his victory speech, he spoke to the audience for minutes in fluent Korean language.

Kozoom was speaking to Semih Sayginer in a question/answer interview on the day after the championship about his sensational victory, his long stays in South Korea, getting used to systems and lifestyle and so on.

Kozoom/Frits Bakker: This was your first major success in the PBA after winning once in a Grand Prix shortly after your debut in Korea. What can you tell about your first experience in the PBA. And what is it like now to be there after two years of tournaments and travelling up and down?

Semih Sayginer: The differences are huge compared to the traditional events at the UMB and formerly the BWA, but even there we played in set system, so we quickly got used to that. The whole environment is obviously very different with the show around the arena, the different experience, especially in the team competition with players cheering each other on. So, comparing as a player and athlete between UMB and PBA is, it doesn't make much difference sport-wise. We all want to play billiards, want to win, get better, get better financially, so that’s the same everywhere. Playing important matches is the same: you play defense, attack if possible, use your tactics, because any miss can be punished. We must show respect to all players and not underestimate anyone. I feel at home here and I’m very happy to have won this big tournament now.

Kozoom/FB: The World Championship, as it is called in the PBA and LPBA, certainly creates more pressure because the prize money is so much higher than in a regular Grand Prix. What does it mean for you, you were qualified, you prepared, were you still in Turkey between the tournament and the final championship with 32?

Semih Sayginer: I must first tell you that my preparation has been very poor due to all kinds of discomforts. When we were in the run-up to the World Championship, I was in Turkey and I broke my toe on 1 February. We had a workman in the house and he dropped some heavy stuff. I was fortunately wearing slippers, otherwise it would have been worse, but I broke my 4th toe on the left, which was bent 45 degrees. I was taken to hospital and from then on my life changed completely for a few weeks. I had to walk to the toilet on crutches, my wife and I slept separately because my toe was very vulnerable to touch. I could not touch a cue for some time and missed not only a match with my team, but also the finals. When things started feeling a bit better, I was finally able to practice again. I didn't feel any form, but was mentally strong to prepare for the individual championship. When we started there, I missed a few stupid shots, but slowly things improved and I was able to focus completely on my games.

Semih Sayginer's first victory in the season's end of PBA

The excellent Turkish winner

Kozoom/FB: But just before the championship, you had another go at home in Turkey. And again, not all went smoothly. Tell us what happened to you.

Semih Sayginer: I felt very bad at one point when I was sitting in the stands with Burak Hashas. I went to the room and got a fever. The other day it was very bad. I still played, but lost 3-0. Then I called the team manager and said I was going to take a flight home. On the plane to Turkey, I had to go to the toilet every 15 minutes. I felt a burning pain. We arrived in Istanbul, I ran hard to the toilet and saw that my urine was all black. Again to the hospital, again medication and again recovering for a few days. Looking back, it was a miracle that I was still ready in time for the final tournament. And that I was able to win as well... My averages were good, I beat my opponents, of whom Kang and Montes were very dangerous. But I succeeded in the end.

Kozoom/FB: The win concludes the season, what will you do now in the coming weeks and months? What can you actually say about your life there in South Korea, is your wife there most of the time, who are the people you hang out with a lot? And how do you like the lifestyle in Korea?

Semih Sayginer: The apartment where I live is very comfortable, I have a nice flat. My wife is not always here, so it's not always easy between tournaments and matches. I miss my routine that I have at home. Life is different here, not for people who are from here or live here permanently. That's not me, because I go back to Turkey when I can. So I am a stranger here. Especially the first year, I felt very confined here. It feels different from the UMB tournaments, for example. Here you often have to play a match every day in the team league. On days off, I sometimes go shopping with Burak (Hashas) and Filippos (Kasidokostas), but like now, after the ceremony tomorrow, I will leave for Turkey again straight away. Life in Korea is peaceful, comfortable, but I have no intention of adjusting to this life. Sometimes, when I have seven days off, travelling up and down to Turkey, I feel a certain homesickness. Both are not easy: if you stay, you feel homesick, if you go up and down, you suffer from jet lag. I'm honest about it: I miss my life there, the routine, my country, family, friends and my dog. It doesn't make life easy.

Kozoom/FB: What will you do in the summer, are there any plans in the period without games in the PBA? By the way, in between, are you looking at UMB tournaments, like the World Nations Championship last week?

Semih Sayginer: My wife and I don't have any big plans yet. Just going to Greece for a short while. We have also been invited by Thorsten Danielson to come to Aarhus in Denmark to be guests for a few days. I will go to the women's European Championships and possibly give a few exhibitions. What we do after that, we don't know yet. Maybe go on a summer holiday for a few weeks. As for the World Cups and the World Nations Championships, I watch it all when I can. But due to time clock, sometimes it is hard to look. I watched the Netherlands against Turkey and a day later didn't know who had won. Then I saw that the Netherlands and Vietnam were playing the final. I always watch when I can, including the World Cups, after all we are all professional billiard players and want to see the great matches from each other. Summer doesn't last that long for us, as the first matches of the PBA are already in June. The final has been very nice with that win, hopefully we will go on to another year of successes after that.

Thanks, Semih, for the interview, have a great summer and good luck going forward.

Kozoom/Frits Bakker.

The ladies winner Ga-young Kim