Kunlavut Vitidsarn becomes first men's singles player to win two BWF Tour Titles in 2023

Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn has become the first men's singles player to win two different BWF tour titles in 2023 till date. Until the Malaysia Masters, the BWF World Tour had 10 different men's singles winners with Vitidsarn breaking the unique run. The longest run of different winners in the Super Series or BWF World Tour (across all 5 disciplines) was in 2015 when 12 different women’s doubles pairs won 12 Superseries events.

WR 5, Kunlavut Vitidsarn defeated reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen to win his first title earlier in January at the India Open. He continued his fine form throughout the season and last week in front of the home fans won the Thailand Open 2023 (ending the long streak). It wasn't an easy job for the World Championships silver medallist as all his matches until the final lasted for more than an hour and went into a decider.

In the semi-finals, Vitidsarn faced his arch-rival Lakshya Sen who is going through a rough patch. Kunlavut lost the opening game and was a point behind at the halfway stage in the second game. He came back strongly from the mid-game interval to win the game and ultimately the match lasting 75 minutes. In the final, the 22-year-old decimated Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong (China) in straight games (21-12, 21-10) to clinch the title.

An Se Young from Korea won her fourth BWF Tour title in women's singles and has progressed to the final in all the BWF Tour events she has contested in.

BWF Tour title winners in 2023 (Men's Singles)

Malaysia Open - Viktor Axelsen

India Open - Kunlavut Vitidsarn

Indonesia Masters - Jonatan Christie

Thailand Masters - Lin Chun-Yi

German Open - NG Ka Long Angus

All England Badminton Championships - Li Shi Feng

Swiss Open - Koki Watanabe

Spain Masters - Kenta Nishimoto

Orleans Masters - Priyanshu Rajawat

Malaysia Masters - HS Prannoy

Thailand Open - Kunlavut Vitidsarn