PETALING JAYA: Ng Eain Yow delivered a masterclass in composure and skill to stun Egypt's world No. 11 Youssef Soliman to claim the Malaysia Cup men's title today.
The second seed avenged his 2022 and 2023 defeats to Soliman with a clinical 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 triumph in just 50 minutes at the Curve Mall, much to the delight of the Malaysian fans.
The world No. 14, determined not to let S. Sivasangari's earlier loss in the women's final dampen local spirits, secured his second title of the year, adding to his German Open win in April.
His victory earned him US$9,025, while Soliman walked away with US$5,700.
"It was one of the best performances of my career," said Eain Yow, 26.
"I was confident going into the final but didn't expect to win so convincingly in straight sets."
The Malaysian star attributed his success to maintaining laser focus and a clear game plan against a higher-ranked opponent.
"Usually, I'm vocal on the court, shouting during matches, but today I was so focused I barely celebrated until I clinched the third and final game," he added.
"Then I screamed — it was a release of all the emotions."
Eain Yow highlighted his mindset shift as a turning point.
"To be a top player, I cannot let opponents who've beaten me before keep getting the better of me. I went in with the determination to fight for every point."
Eain Yow will next play in the Singapore Open, which starts on Tuesday.