Korea Open 2026: Man-Tee Bow Out to World No.1 in Semi-Final
The Malaysian third seeds' explosive run at the Yeosu Victor Korea Open 2026 has come to a halt after a hard-fought, straight-games defeat to tournament favorites Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae.
Malaysian men’s doubles stars Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun saw their impressive BWF Super 500 campaign end in the semi-finals at Jinnam Stadium, Yeosu on Saturday.
Squaring off against the hometown heroes and tournament number one seeds, South Korea's Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, the third-seeded Malaysian duo fought relentlessly but ultimately went down 21-17, 21-17.
Game 1 was an absolute dogfight from the opening serve. Both pairs traded heavy blows, with each side managing to string together massive six-point scoring streaks during the intensely physical battle. Man and Tee showed incredible grit to hold an early advantage and keep the scoreline neck-and-neck, deadlocking the game at a tense 17-17. However, the Korean top seeds flipped the switch at the crucial moment, unleashing a flawless late surge to snatch the final four points and secure the opening game 21-17.
Refusing to back down, the Malaysian pair came out firing in Game 2. Dictating the early pace, Man and Tee maintained a steady lead through the first half of the game, keeping the pressure firmly on the hometown favorites. But Kim and Seo proved exactly why they are the top dogs in Yeosu. The Koreans systematically clawed their way back to equalize midway through the game. Relying on a maximum streak of four consecutive points, the number one seeds ruthlessly pulled away in the closing stages, sealing another 21-17 victory to punch their ticket to the final.
Despite the straight-games defeat, the aggressive semi-final run by Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun serves as yet another strong statement of their elite pedigree on the HSBC BWF World Tour circuit.
Credit Photo : BERNAMA
