Aaron Tai-Roy King win Arctic Open title on debut as a pair, beating Taiwan's Lai-Tsai 21-19, 21-19

Malaysia's experimental men's doubles pairing of Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King finished their first tournament together as champions, winning the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, on Sunday 11 October. The scratch pair beat Taiwan's Lai Po Yu and Tsai Fu Cheng 21-19, 21-19 in a 41-minute final to lift the Super 500 title. Their win follows Saturday's semi-final victory over Denmark's Kjaer pair.

Two tight games, one clear outcome

The final never got away from either side. Both games finished at 21-19, but the Malaysians closed out each one and won in straight games. For a pair that had never played a tournament together before this month, holding their nerve in two close endings was the most telling part of the performance.

Lai and Tsai had earned their place in the final by beating France's Julien Maio and William Villeger in three games, 21-15, 19-21, 21-13.

How the title run unfolded

Aaron and Roy King won five matches without dropping a game:

• First round: beat fellow Malaysians Tan Wee Kiong and Nur Azriyn Ayub 21-12, 21-13 in 26 minutes.
• Second round: beat Taiwan's seventh seeds Lee Fang-chih and Lee Fang-jen 21-19, 21-11 in 39 minutes.
• Quarter-finals: beat Thailand's Peeratchai Sukphun and Pakkapon Teeraratsakul in straight games.
• Semi-finals: beat Denmark's Christian Faust Kjaer and Rasmus Kjaer 21-14, 21-16.
• Final: beat Lai Po Yu and Tsai Fu Cheng 21-19, 21-19.

Wins over a seeded pair in the second round and the world No. 32 Danish pair in the semi-finals show this was not a soft route to the title.

Why the pairing exists

The partnership is part of a wider reshuffle by national men's doubles head coach Herry Iman Pierngadi. Aaron Tai won the world junior boys' doubles title with long-time partner Kang Khai Xing, but Herry split the two, citing a difference in their speed on court.

Aaron has since been tried with several senior partners this season. With Aaron Chia he reached the Taiwan Open final, and with Soh Wooi Yik he played the China Masters, where they beat world No. 10 pair Chen Boyang-Liu Yi. The Arctic Open pairing with Roy King has now given Herry a first title from the experiment.

What it means for Malaysian doubles

Malaysia's senior men's doubles depth has long rested on a small number of established pairs. A title at Super 500 level for a brand-new combination gives the coaching staff a strong argument to keep Aaron and Roy King together for the rest of the season.

The timing also matters. Malaysia's top pairs head into the European swing, starting with the Super 750 Denmark Open in Odense from 13 to 18 October. Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik are reuniting there after the Asian Games. The Arctic Open result means the second tier of Malaysian men's doubles now has a fresh, proven option.

Elsewhere in Vantaa, Lee Zii Jia's run ended in the men's singles semi-finals against Denmark's Anders Antonsen, a day after he beat world No. 2 Christo Popov.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King won the Arctic Open men's doubles on Sunday 11 October, beating Lai Po Yu-Tsai Fu Cheng 21-19, 21-19 in 41 minutes.
• It was their first tournament as a pair, and they did not drop a game in five matches.
• Their wins included Taiwan's seventh seeds and Denmark's Kjaer pair.
• The pairing is part of coach Herry Iman Pierngadi's men's doubles reshuffle, which split Aaron from Kang Khai Xing.

FAQ

What level is the Arctic Open? It is a BWF World Tour Super 500 tournament, held this year at the Energie Arena in Vantaa, Finland.

Who did Aaron Tai-Roy King beat in the final? Taiwan's Lai Po Yu and Tsai Fu Cheng, 21-19, 21-19.

Who did Aaron Tai partner before? His long-time partner was Kang Khai Xing, with whom he won the world junior title. This season he has also played with Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.

Sources: Bernama, The Star, Free Malaysia Today, BadmintonPlanet