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[스포츠뉴스]Rising billiard star looks to run the table at this year's LPBA tournament

온카뱅크관리자

2026-05-17 07:00:00

<div class="ab_photo photo_center ab_zoom"> <div class="image"> <img src="https://imgnews.pstatic.net/image/640/2026/05/17/0000088509_001_20260517070119260.jpg" alt="" />Billiards player Jeong Su-bin poses for a photograph during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo in Goyang, Gyeonggi, on May 13. [KANG JUNG-HYUN] </div> </div> For most of her life, Jeong Su-bin never imagined a career in professional billiards. Until her junior year of college, the 27-year-old rising star of women’s professional billiards was an ordinary statistics student at Sookmyung Women's University, worrying about how to make use of her major and prepare for the job market. A casual visit to a billiards hall in Hanam, Gyeonggi, changed everything. At first, she stopped by simply to spend time with her friend who worked there and occasionally filled in for her when needed. But watching the games gradually drew her in. Her interest deepened after meeting her boyfriend, 29-year-old Professional Billiards Association (PBA) player Han Ji-seung, who helped her begin training in earnest. As the new season of the Ladies’ Professional Billiards Association (LPBA) tour opens Friday, Jeong enters the year not simply as one of the tournament’s most recognizable faces, but as one of its fastest-rising talents. “At some point, billiards became part of my life,” Jeong said in an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at a billiards hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi, on Wednesday. “Just as we eat and sleep every day, I can’t imagine daily life without billiards.” The PBA women’s LPBA tours, now entering their eighth season, begin their latest campaign on Friday, roughly a month earlier than usual due to scheduling around the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Billiards fans will be watching closely to see whether Jeong can continue the rapid ascent she showed last season. After initially attracting attention for her looks and unconventional path into the sport, Jeong steadily established herself as a serious contender, posting consistent finishes near the top of the standings and reaching her first LPBA final at the Welcome Savings Bank Championship in January &#8212; three years after her 2022 debut. <div class="ab_photo photo_center ab_zoom"> <div class="image"> <img src="https://imgnews.pstatic.net/image/640/2026/05/17/0000088509_002_20260517070119394.jpg" alt="" />Billiards player Jeong Su-bin, right, receives the Professional Billiards Association's Young Star Award during a ceremony at the Grand Walkerhill hotel in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, on March 17. [PROFESSIONAL BILLIARDS ASSOCIATION] </div> </div> Her improvement earned her the Young Star Award, given annually to only one up-and-coming player in both the men’s and women’s leagues. “It was a period when I could really feel myself improving,” Jeong said. “At the same time, I realized how much I still need to work on. I still regret the Welcome Savings Bank final.” That breakthrough nearly ended in a title. Facing veteran Lim Kyung-jin in the championship match, Jeong pushed the contest to a deciding seventh set and had the opening opportunity, but failed to capitalize. Several chances she missed ultimately handed the title to Lim. “I fell short in many ways,” Jeong said. “Before the final, I couldn’t sleep properly. I woke up at 5 a.m. that morning and stayed awake until the match began at 10 p.m. By the seventh set, I was physically exhausted and my concentration had dropped.” “I think all of that came down to inexperience,” she added. “If I get another opportunity, I’ll never make the same mistakes again.” Because she started late compared with most professional players, Jeong still believes she lacks experience in match play and problem-solving during difficult situations. During the offseason, she all but gave up vacations and personal time, spending long days in training from 3 p.m. until 1 a.m. honing her skills. Jeong said she still prioritizes repeated drills on core shots &#8212; including front-bank and back-bank shots, long-angle shots and cross-table techniques &#8212; to make up for lost time. “I don’t regret starting billiards late,” she said. “I’m actually grateful that I found it, even if it happened later in life.” “If I had followed a more conventional career path, I probably would have worked in finance, securities or insurance like many of my friends,” she added. “I’m happier living the life I have now with billiards.” Jeong said she hopes to leave behind the label of promising newcomer this season. “I no longer want to be called a rookie. I want to be called a top player,” she said, adding, “I want to achieve my dream of winning a title and smile proudly.” This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

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