LA Open 2026: Men's Doubles Preview — Sabar Karyaman GUTAMA / Takuro HOKI to Win?
Men's Doubles Preview - LA Open 2026: Who Takes the Title?
The Los Angeles Open 2026 is shaping up to be a thrilling spectacle, pitting the world’s elite men’s doubles pairs against each other. With KIM Won Ho and Fajar ALFIAN leading the rankings, this tournament promises drama and skill.
The Field — Briefly summarise the title contenders and what makes this category interesting
KIM Won Ho and SEO Seung Jae are no strangers to the spotlight, having claimed the top spot with 17 victories in 2026. Their consistent form and partnership have made them formidable opponents. Meanwhile, Fajar ALFIAN and Muhammad Shohibul FIARI boast an impressive record of 10 wins and four semifinal appearances, indicating a strong push for the title.
Previous Champions — Name the last 3 editions' winners. Use the Wikipedia data provided above — it is authoritative. Short bullet list
- 2025 BWF World Championships: KIM Won Ho / SEO Seung Jae
- 2025 BWF World Tour Finals: Fajar ALFIAN / Muhammad Shohibul FIARI
- 2024 BWF World Championships: Aaron CHIA / SOH Wooi Yik
Form Guide — Who's been hot in 2026 leading into this event. The rankings table above shows current standings — use them.
Aaron CHIA and SOH Wooi Yik lead the pack with a solid 12 wins, four semifinal appearances, and one title to their names. GOH Sze Fei and Nur IZZUDDIN follow closely behind with 14 wins and five semifinals, showing that they too are in prime condition heading into LA.
Key Clash to Watch — One anticipated QF/SF matchup and why it's decisive
The quarterfinal clash between KIM Won Ho / SEO Seung Jae and GOH Sze Fei / Nur IZZUDDIN will be a battle of the best. Both pairs have faced each other 17 times, with GOH Sze Fei holding a commanding 14-3 edge. However, recent form suggests that KIM Won Ho’s partnership is at its peak, making this matchup crucial for both title contenders.
🔮 Our Prediction — Bold pick for who wins this category, with 2-3 sentences of reasoning
KIM Won Ho / SEO Seung Jae will claim the title. Their current world ranking of #1 and a proven track record in high-stakes events make them the most likely champions. KIM Won Ho's form is on fire, having secured multiple titles this season, and his partnership with SEO Seung Jae has shown remarkable resilience.
Dark Horses — Two players/pairs who could surprise
While the top pairs are favorites, Sabar Karyaman GUTAMA / Takuro HOKI and Christo POPOV / Toma Junior POPOV should not be overlooked. Sabar Karyaman and Takuro HOKI have shown flashes of brilliance this season, while Christo POPOV’s versatility might give them an edge in unexpected moments.
📊 2026 Season Leaderboard *(from CrazyBadman database)*
| Player | 2026 Match Wins | SF/F Appearances | Titles |
| Fajar ALFIAN / Muhammad Shohibul FIKRI | 10 | 4 | 2 |
| Christo POPOV / Toma Junior POPOV | 33 | 8 | 1 |
| KIM Won Ho / SEO Seung Jae | 17 | 6 | 1 |
| GOH Sze Fei / Nur IZZUDDIN | 14 | 5 | 1 |
| Aaron CHIA / SOH Wooi Yik | 12 | 4 | 1 |
| Christian Faust KJÆR / Rasmus KJÆR | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| D LUNDGAARD / M VESTERGAARD | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Marcel Granollers / Horacio Zeballos | 12 | 3 | 1 |
*Data covers LA Open 2026 and other 2026 BWF events tracked in our database.*
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