BIRMINGHAM, England – Former world champions Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will face fellow Malaysians Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun in the quarter-finals of the 2026 All England Open, guaranteeing at least one Malaysian pair in the semi-finals. The match, set to take place Friday in Birmingham, comes after both duos secured hard-fought victories in the second round on Thursday.
Chia and Soh, seeded second in the tournament, needed a grueling 63 minutes to overcome teammates Wan Arif Wan Junaidi and Yap Roy King 21-15, 18-21, 21-18. The match proved a tense affair, showcasing the depth of talent within Malaysian men’s doubles badminton. It wasn’t a straightforward win for the experienced pair, as Junaidi and Yap pushed them to a deciding game.
“They battled for every point,” said a source close to the Malaysian team, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It was a real test of character for Aaron and Wooi Yik, especially playing against teammates.”
Meanwhile, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun demonstrated their own prowess, dispatching Taiwan’s Chiu Hsiang-chieh and Wang Chi-lin in just 33 minutes with a score of 21-14, 21-18. The sixth-seeded duo appeared sharp and focused, securing their second consecutive victory over the Taiwanese pair. Tee Kai Wun noted that they were able to maintain their rhythm despite attempts by their opponents to disrupt it. “Our opponents tried to disrupt our rhythm but we stayed solid,” he said.
Wei Chong, who is currently recovering from an injury, added, “I’m just trying to enjoy the game as we want to do well in this big tournament.” His ability to compete at a high level while managing an injury speaks to the pair’s resilience and determination.
The All England Open, a tournament steeped in history, is delivering “absolute fireworks” according to reports from Birmingham. The competition has already seen several upsets and close matches, highlighting the increasingly competitive landscape of international badminton. This all-Malaysian quarter-final adds another layer of intrigue to the tournament.
However, the day wasn’t without disappointment for Malaysia. Eighth seeds Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani saw their campaign end in the round of 16, falling to Indonesia’s Muhammad Rian Ardianto and Rahmat Hidayat 21-23, 16-21. The Indonesian pair demonstrated impressive resilience, securing a hard-fought victory.
A surprising result also came from the men’s doubles bracket as the young Malaysian pair of Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing, fresh off a stunning upset over the No. 4 seeds Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty in the opening round, were defeated by China’s Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi 19-21, 17-21. Chen and Liu, last week’s German Open champions, proved too strong for the rising Malaysian stars. They will now face Ardianto and Hidayat in the quarter-finals.
The tournament has also seen unexpected results in other categories. In mixed doubles, unseeded Danish pair Mads Vestergaard and Christine Busch are making a remarkable run, causing a significant upset in the draw.
For Chia and Soh, the quarter-final against Man and Tee presents a unique challenge. While they are the more experienced and higher-ranked pair, the familiarity between the two teams could level the playing field. Their previous seven encounters have seen Chia and Soh win four times, suggesting a slight advantage, but the pressure of a quarter-final match, with a semi-final berth on the line, will undoubtedly add another dimension to the contest.
The match is scheduled for Friday at the Utilita Arena Birmingham. Fans can expect a thrilling display of skill and athleticism as two of Malaysia’s top men’s doubles pairs battle for a place in the semi-finals of the prestigious All England Open. The winner will not only secure a spot in the next round but also carry the hopes of a nation eager to see a Malaysian pair lift the coveted trophy.
Following the quarter-final matches, the semi-final lineup will be set, promising more exciting badminton action in Birmingham. Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the 2026 All England Open.
