Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the Arctic Open 2025 final, falling to England’s Ben Lane and Sean Vendy in a grueling three-game showdown at the Vantaan Energia Areena tonight.
The former world champions, seeded first for the tournament, battled valiantly but ultimately went down 18–21, 27–25, 17–21 in a 76-minute thriller that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Aaron and Wooi Yik, ranked No.2 in the world, started the match under pressure, committing several unforced errors that allowed the eighth-seeded English duo to seize control and take the opening game 21–18.
Despite flashes of brilliance from the Malaysians, Lane and Vendy’s consistency and sharp defense disrupted their rhythm, forcing the favorites to play catch-up for much of the first set.
The second game saw a more composed and aggressive performance from the Malaysians. Aaron–Wooi Yik tightened their net play and took an 11–8 lead at the mid-game interval, but the English pair refused to back down, clawing their way level to force a tense deuce battle.
In a nerve-wracking exchange that showcased world-class rallies and relentless determination, Aaron–Wooi Yik eventually prevailed 27–25, sending the final into a decisive third game and reigniting hopes of a comeback.
The decider began evenly, with both pairs trading points and maintaining a razor-thin margin throughout. However, Lane–Vendy broke away late in the game to lead 19–16, capitalizing on a few costly errors from the Malaysians.
Despite Aaron–Wooi Yik’s spirited push to close the gap, the English duo held firm, sealing the match 21–17 to capture the Arctic Open crown — their first title of the year.
While the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, Aaron and Wooi Yik’s impressive run to the final further cements their reputation as one of the most consistent pairs on the international circuit.
The result denies Aaron–Wooi Yik what would have been their fourth title of the season, after triumphs at the Badminton Asia Championships, Thailand Open, and Singapore Open earlier this year.
As champions, Lane and Vendy walked away with US$37,525 (≈RM137,418) and gold medals, while Aaron–Wooi Yik settled for US$18,050 (≈RM76,261) and silver.
Credit Photo : David Wirawan/SBA
