Malaysia’s long wait for a home men’s doubles champion stretched to 12 years after national top pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik fell agonisingly short in the Malaysia Open 2026 final at a sold-out Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur.
Hopes of a historic breakthrough were dashed as the world No. 2 Malaysians went down to top seeds and defending champions Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae of South Korea in a gripping three-game encounter that lasted one hour and six minutes.
Aaron-Wooi Yik struggled to settle early, committing a series of unforced errors that allowed the Koreans to dictate the tempo. The sluggish start proved costly as the Malaysians surrendered the opening game 15-21.
Showing trademark resilience, the 2022 world champions roared back in the second set. Sharp at the net and far more assertive in attack, Aaron-Wooi Yik surged to an 18-11 lead before forcing a decider with a commanding 21-12 victory, igniting belief among the partisan home crowd.
However, momentum swung decisively in the third game. Won Ho-Seung Jae raced to an 11-4 advantage, but the Malaysians refused to go quietly, clawing their way back to narrow the deficit to 18-17. Just when a dramatic turnaround seemed possible, the Koreans held their nerve, closing out the match 21-18 to successfully defend their title.
The defeat means Malaysia’s search for a men’s doubles champion at the Malaysia Open continues, with the last local triumph still belonging to Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah in 2014.
It was also another bitter setback for Aaron-Wooi Yik at the Super 1000 level, marking their seventh defeat in finals or latter stages at this elite tier as they continue their pursuit of a maiden Super 1000 crown.
As champions, Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae walked away with USD107,500 (approximately RM439,233), while runners-up Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik earned USD50,750 (around RM207,745) — a small consolation on a night that promised so much but ended in heartbreak.
