"'Spain's three-cushion legend' Daniel Sanchez (52, Welcome Savings Bank) and 'the billiards empress' Kim Ga-young (43, Hana Card) rose to the brightest stars on the professional billiards (PBA) stage."
Sanchez and Kim Ga-young on the 17th at Vista Hall, Grand Walkerhill, Gwangjin District, Seoul, at the 2025-2026 season professional billiards awards ceremony Hana Card PBA Golden Cue Awards 2026 each seized the grand prize in the PBA (men's pro) and LPBA (women's pro) institutional sector.
Sanchez won the grand prize three years after joining the PBA. He reached the finals in five of the 10 tours he entered this season, and won back-to-back titles in the 7th and 8th tours. Five final appearances in one season is a first in the men's division.
In particular, Sanchez earned 412,500 points to comfortably secure the grand prize by edging out second-place Kim Young-won (Harim) with 331,500 points by a margin of 81,000 points. In addition to the grand prize, Sanchez swept the prize money king (324.5 million won), bank-shot award (254 times) and sportsmanship award, becoming a four-time winner.
In his grand prize remarks, Sanchez mentioned his teammates' names one by one and diverted praise, saying, "I want to thank the teammates who were a great help this season. Thanks to them I was able to grow further. I want to celebrate today together."
Kim Ga-young lifted four championship cups this season, displaying the dignity of an 'empress.' Above all, Kim Ga-young, who set an unprecedented record of winning the grand prize three consecutive times, completed a six-title sweep by taking the prize money king (229.5 million won), best average award, bank-shot award (200 times), team league best doubles award, and team league grand prize.
Kim Ga-young showed an emotional expression, saying, "This year marks my 30th year as a player. Thirty years ago, billiards was not recognized as a sport. I think I am standing here because I have worked hard to get billiards recognized as a sport."
She added, "Many people have worked hard for billiards to develop as a sport. I, too, will be a player who helps the development of billiards in Korea as well as seeking personal glory."
In addition, Jeong Su-bin (NH Nonghyup Card) won the Young Star Award, given to a young player who showed excellent skill development among young players. Jeong Su-bin recorded the highest personal career result with a runner-up finish in the 9th tour.
[Hana Card PBA Golden Cue Awards 2026 winners list]
▶ Contribution award (competition category): PBA chief referee Hyun Ji-won
▶ Contribution award (local government category): Kim Kyunghak, member of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Council
▶ Contribution award (sponsor category): SY vice chairman Hong Seong-gyun
▶ Special award (sportsmanship): Daniel Sanchez (Spain·Welcome Savings Bank)
▶ Dream Tour MVP: Oh Seong-wook
▶ Best front office award: High1 Resort High1 Winners
▶ Next champ award: Huons Healthcare Legend
▶ Best doubles award: Welcome Savings Bank Semi Signer (Türkiye)-Han Ji-seung / Hana Card Kim Ga-young-Sakai Ayako (Japan)
▶ Best mixed doubles award: Crown Haitai Oh Tae-joon-Im Jeong-sook
▶ Best singles award: David Zapata (Spain·Woori Financial Capital) / Kang Ji-eun (SK Rent-a-Car)
▶ Best supporters award: NH Nonghyup Card NH Pay
▶ Team league grand prize: Hana Card Hana Pay
▶ Young Star award: Jeong Su-bin (NH Nonghyup Card)
▶ Best dresser award: Kim Young-won (Harim) / Sorn Pia-vi (Cambodia·Woori Financial Capital)
▶ Best performance award: Lee Seung-jin
▶ Bank-shot award: Daniel Sanchez (Spain·Welcome Savings Bank) / Kim Ga-young (Hana Card)
▶ Best average award: Kang Dong-gun (SK Rent-a-Car) / Kim Ga-young (Hana Card)
▶ Jebisco prize money ranking prize money king: Daniel Sanchez (Spain·Welcome Savings Bank) / Kim Ga-young (Hana Card)
▶ Grand prize: Daniel Sanchez (Spain·Welcome Savings Bank) / Kim Ga-young (Hana Card)
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