The anticipation was unmistakable as the Korea Press Center in Seoul buzzed with energy on May 12, 2026. The 2026-2027 PBA-LPBA Tour Media Day had arrived, signaling the end of a long offseason and the dawn of a fresh, ten-month journey for professional billiards in Korea. With the Woori Financial Capital PBA-LPBA Championship set to open the season at Goyang KINTEX PBA Stadium on May 16, the sport’s biggest names gathered to share their hopes, ambitions, and a few candid laughs with the press.
Among the stars in attendance were Daniel Sanchez of Spain (Welcome Savings Bank), Kim Young-won (Harim), Oh Sung-wook, Kim Ga-young (Hanacard), Srong Piabi (Woori Financial Capital), and Jung Soo-bin (NH Nonghyup Card). The event was more than just a photo opportunity; it was a stage for bold declarations and honest reflections as the players looked ahead to a season packed with drama and possibility.
Daniel Sanchez, last season’s two-time winner and PBA points leader, kicked things off with a warm “안녕하세요” in Korean, drawing smiles all around. Reflecting on his offseason, Sanchez shared, “I spent about 45 days in Spain and had a truly happy time. A few days ago, I returned to Korea and resumed training.” He revealed that he had set up a personal practice facility in Korea to sharpen his game, underscoring his commitment to the new campaign. When asked about his ambitions, Sanchez was candid: “I’d love to win all nine tours and the World Championship, but realistically, that’s impossible. This year, my goal is to win the team league. Nothing would be more valuable than that.”
For Kim Young-won, the youngest World Champion in PBA history at just 18 years and 4 months, the offseason was anything but restful. “I think I trained even more during the break,” he admitted. “I enjoyed training and took time to recharge, but I spent a lot of time building up my stamina.” Kim’s focus on physical fitness stemmed from his experience in the latter stages of last season’s World Championship: “Winning was amazing, but I really felt my stamina dropping in the semifinals and finals. I’ve worked hard to ensure I can deliver better performances on the big stage this year.” His target for the new season? “I want to win at least three tournaments,” Kim declared, determined to shed the label of ‘surprise champion’ and establish himself as a consistent force.
Kim also shared a lighthearted anecdote involving the popular billiards YouTuber ‘Hacker.’ “I played billiards with Uncle Hacker during the offseason, and when I lost, he joked he wouldn’t go easy on me if we met in the PBA,” Kim said with a grin. With Hacker possibly entering the PBA as a wildcard, fans are already buzzing about a potential showdown between the two. Kim expressed his respect for fellow pro Cho Myung-woo, saying, “He’s a player I admire and I think he’s better than me. If I get the chance, I’d like to play him and learn from the experience. If such a match is held as an event, I think fans would really enjoy it and feel hopeful about the future of billiards.”
On the women’s side, Kim Ga-young remains the player to beat. After collecting four titles last season and cementing her status as the LPBA’s dominant force, Kim spoke of her preparations: “I traveled a bit for a break, but I’m still working on losing weight and have adjusted my training methods. I hope everyone will cheer for me.” When pressed about her goals, she didn’t hesitate: “I don’t know how many titles I’ll win, but if possible, I want to win every tournament.”
But Kim’s rivals aren’t backing down. Srong Piabi, known as the ‘Cambodian Express,’ skipped a trip home to focus on training and is determined to challenge Kim’s supremacy. “I remember beating Kim Ga-young before, so I think I can do even better this season,” Srong said confidently. “This time, I want to become a player that fans can be truly proud of. I think I’ll be able to surprise everyone with my performances.” She credited her husband’s support for her renewed focus and added, “There were times when I couldn’t concentrate on billiards, but now I’m practicing comfortably and my concentration has improved. Maybe I can really shock the fans this season!”
Jung Soo-bin, the rising LPBA star who finished 10th last season and boasts a 3-1 record against Kim Ga-young, is setting her sights high. “In the past two years, I took it a bit easy, but this offseason felt like there was no break at all,” Jung said. “I focused on fundamentals and bank shots, and I also worked on adapting to different tables. I realized that the quality of practice is just as important as the quantity.” For the new season, Jung has her eyes on her first tournament win: “I want to win at least once this year and become a player who lives up to the fans’ expectations.”
Oh Sung-wook, who earned promotion from the Dream Tour after three consecutive wins, echoed a theme of humility and hunger. “There was no real offseason for me,” Oh said. “I kept training as usual and want to approach this season with the mindset of a challenger.”
This season brings a few notable changes to the LPBA’s structure. The seeding system has been revamped: instead of the top 32 players receiving a direct spot in the round of 64, now the top 96 are seeded into the round of 128, while the remaining 32 must fight through preliminaries. This tweak means more early-round action for top players and the potential for upsets right from the start. On the officiating side, referees will now shout “bank” before bank shot points, and new body signals will make foul calls clearer for fans both in the arena and watching on TV.
The Woori Financial Capital PBA-LPBA Championship, running from May 16 to 24 at the Goyang KINTEX PBA Stadium, will launch the season with a bang. The stakes are high: the PBA winner will take home 100 million KRW, while the LPBA champion will claim 50 million KRW. With so much talent and a few fresh faces in the mix, the opening event promises fireworks.
As the players posed for photos and shared their stories, one thing was clear: the 2026-2027 PBA-LPBA season is shaping up to be a wild ride. With new rules, fierce rivalries, and bold ambitions on display, fans can expect plenty of drama, upsets, and unforgettable moments as the cues start cracking in Goyang. The countdown to opening break is on!