After reaching her eighth Malaysian Open final in a row, Nicol David was after her sixth successive success in the climax of the women's $53,500 WISPA World Tour Gold event.
But the world number one from Penang's opponent Jenny Duncalf, the world number two from England, did not make it easy for her in their third Tour final clash this year.
Twice David led, but on both occasions Harrogate-based Duncalf battled back to draw level.
It took 72 minutes for Datuk David to clinch the title.
It was Nicol David's 60th appearance in a WISPA Tour final – and the success brought up her fourth Tour title of the year and the 45th of her career.
Semi-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [4] Alison Waters (ENG) 14-12, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt [Q] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 12-10
Quarter-finals:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt Camille Serme (FRA) 11-4, 11-4, 11-8
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 11-5, 11-3, 3-11, 11-4
[Q] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [8] Laura Massaro (ENG) 11-7, 7-11, 7-11, 11-4, 13-11
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Low Wee Wern (MAS) 11-5, 11-6, 11-3
1st round:
[1] Nicol David (MAS) bt [Q] Joelle King (NZL) 11-7, 11-5, 11-4
Camille Serme (FRA) bt [7] Madeline Perry (IRL) 11-2, 5-11, 11-6, 11-5 (
[4] Alison Waters (ENG) bt [Q] Tania Bailey (ENG) 10-12, 11-5, 12-10, 11-6
[5] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) bt Kasey Brown (AUS) 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-3
[8] Laura Massaro (ENG) bt [Q] Dipika Pallikal (IND) 9-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 11-9
[Q] Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) 12-10, 14-16, 11-9, 12-10
Low Wee Wern (MAS) bt [6] Natalie Grainger (USA) 9-11, 11-8, 7-11, 14-12, 11-7
[2] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL) 11-6, 11-3, 11-6
Qualifying finals:
Raneem El Weleily (EGY) bt Nour El Sherbini (EGY) 4-11, 11-5, 11-8, 8-11, 14-12
Joelle King (NZL) bt Joshna Chinappa (IND) 11-7, 11-7, 7-11, 11-9
Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt Siti Munirah Jusoh (MAS) 9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-6
Tania Bailey (ENG) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS) 11-6, 11-5, 11-5
Issued by iSPORTgroup.com