Vantaa, Finland: Malaysia’s scratch men’s doubles combination Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King continued their remarkable run at the 2026 Arctic Open by defeating Denmark’s Christian Faust Kjaer and Rasmus Kjaer in straight games to reach the final.
The Malaysians won 21-14, 21-16 in the semifinals, while Lee Zii Jia’s encouraging men’s singles campaign came to an end after a three-game defeat to Denmark’s Anders Antonsen.
Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King Beat Kjaer Brothers in Straight Games
Aaron and Yap produced another composed performance against world No. 32 Christian Faust Kjaer and Rasmus Kjaer, controlling the important stages of both games.
In the opening game, the Malaysians consistently stayed ahead once they established their rhythm. The match statistics showed Aaron-Yap’s longest scoring run at four consecutive points, compared with two for the Danish pair, as they converted their advantage into a comfortable 21-14 win.
The second game was more competitive, with Kjaer-Kjaer staying closer through the middle stages. Aaron and Yap again managed to create separation when it mattered, with another four-point run helping them maintain control before closing the match 21-16.
- Winners: Aaron Tai/Yap Roy King of Malaysia
- Defeated: Christian Faust Kjaer/Rasmus Kjaer of Denmark
- Score: 21-14, 21-16
- Round: 2026 Arctic Open semifinal
The match graphics also showed Aaron-Yap winning 21 of the 35 points played in the first game and 21 of 37 in the second, underlining their ability to maintain the lead without allowing the Danish pair to put together a sustained scoring run.
Watch Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King vs Kjaer-Kjaer Highlights
Source: BWF
Aaron Tai-Yap Roy King Await Final Opponents
Aaron and Yap will play Chinese Taipei’s Lai Po Yu-Tsai Fu Cheng in the final after Lai/Tsai defeated France’s Julien Maio-William Villeger in the men’s doubles semi-final 21-15， 19-21， 21-13.
- Finalist: Aaron Tai/Yap Roy King of Malaysia
- Opponent: Lai Po Yu/Tsai Fu Cheng of Chinese Taipei
Reaching the final is another significant result for a Malaysian combination that was only recently put together as part of the national team’s ongoing doubles experiments.
Lee Zii Jia Falls to Anders Antonsen in Three Games
Lee Zii Jia was unable to join Aaron-Yap on finals day after losing a hard-fought men’s singles semifinal to Denmark’s Anders Antonsen.
Antonsen dominated the opening game 21-11, but Lee responded strongly in the second, finding more success with his attack and taking it 21-15 to force a decider.
The Danish world No. 6 regained control in the third game and held off Lee’s challenge to win 21-16.
- Winner: Anders Antonsen of Denmark
- Defeated: Lee Zii Jia of Malaysia
- Score: 21-11, 15-21, 21-16
- Round: Men’s singles semifinal
Watch Lee Zii Jia vs Anders Antonsen Highlights
Source: BWF
Lee Zii Jia Leaves Finland With Encouraging Signs
Despite the semifinal defeat, Lee produced his strongest Super 500 performance in nearly two years after beginning the tournament in qualifying.
His run included a major quarterfinal victory over France’s world No. 2 Christo Popov, whom he defeated 21-11, 21-16.
The performance gives the world No. 56 Malaysian useful momentum ahead of his next tournament as he continues rebuilding his form and confidence.
Watch Anders Antonsen’s Post-Match Interview
Source: Badminton Europe
Watch Lee Zii Jia’s Post-Match Interview
Source: Badminton Europe
Anders Antonsen to Face Yushi Tanaka in Final
Antonsen will face Japan’s Yushi Tanaka for the men’s singles title.
Tanaka secured his place in the final by defeating fellow Japanese player Koki Watanabe in three games, winning 21-14, 11-21, 21-16.
- Yushi Tanaka (Japan) beat Koki Watanabe (Japan) 21-14, 11-21, 21-16
- Men’s singles final: Anders Antonsen (Denmark) vs Yushi Tanaka (Japan)
Ratchanok Intanon to Meet Mia Blichfeldt in Women’s Singles Final
Thailand’s top seed Ratchanok Intanon recovered from a game down to defeat Denmark’s seventh seed Line Christophersen in the women’s singles semifinals.
Christophersen took the opening game 21-17, but Ratchanok responded emphatically, winning the next two 21-10, 21-13.
- Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) beat Line Christophersen (Denmark) 17-21, 21-10, 21-13
Ratchanok will face Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt, who produced a dominant straight-game victory over former world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.
- Mia Blichfeldt (Denmark) beat Nozomi Okuhara (Japan) 21-11, 21-7
- Women’s singles final: Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) vs Mia Blichfeldt (Denmark)
Chen Fan Shu Tian-Luo Xu Min Reach Women’s Doubles Final
China’s Chen Fan Shu Tian and Luo Xu Min reached the women’s doubles final after defeating Chinese Taipei’s eighth seeds Hsu Ya Ching and Sung Yu-Hsuan 21-14, 21-19.
- Chen Fan Shu Tian/Luo Xu Min (China) beat Hsu Ya Ching/Sung Yu-Hsuan (Chinese Taipei) 21-14, 21-19
They will meet Chinese Taipei’s second seeds Hsu Yin-Hui and Lin Jhih Yun, who came from behind to eliminate China’s Bao Li Jing and Cao Zi Han.
Bao-Cao took the opening game 21-17 before Hsu-Lin turned the semifinal around, winning the next two games 21-14, 21-18.
- Hsu Yin-Hui/Lin Jhih Yun (Chinese Taipei) beat Bao Li Jing/Cao Zi Han (China) 17-21, 21-14, 21-18
- Women’s doubles final: Chen Fan Shu Tian/Luo Xu Min (China) vs Hsu Yin-Hui/Lin Jhih Yun (Chinese Taipei)
Jiang Zhen Bang-Wei Ya Xin Win All-China Mixed Doubles Semifinal
Third seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin claimed bragging rights in an all-Chinese semifinal against top seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping.
Jiang-Wei won in straight games, 21-18, 21-17, to advance to the mixed doubles final.
- Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin (China) beat Feng Yan Zhe/Huang Dong Ping (China) 21-18, 21-17
Their final opponents will be fellow Chinese pair Gao Jia Xuan and Wu Meng Ying, who defeated Chinese Taipei’s Liu Kuang Heng and Hsu Yin-Hui 21-11, 21-14.
- Gao Jia Xuan/Wu Meng Ying (China) beat Liu Kuang Heng/Hsu Yin-Hui (Chinese Taipei) 21-11, 21-14
- Mixed doubles final: Jiang Zhen Bang/Wei Ya Xin (China) vs Gao Jia Xuan/Wu Meng Ying (China)
Malaysia Still Has a Chance for Arctic Open Title
Lee Zii Jia’s singles run may have ended in the semifinals, but Malaysia will still have a chance to leave Finland with a championship through Aaron Tai and Yap Roy King.
The newly formed pair have continued to improve with each round and will now play for their first title together in the Arctic Open men’s doubles final.
