The English duo, No 15 in world ranking, won the closely fought match 21-18, 25-27, 21-17 in 75 minutes.

Aaron-Wooi Yik thus failed to create a badminton record for Malaysia by having two winners at the Arctic Open for the first time after Pearly Tan-M Thinaah captured the women’s doubles crown earlier.

Despite the loss, the Malaysians win US$18,050 (RM76,225) as runners-up.

Aaron-Wooi Yik were on the brink of losing the pulsating match in straight games after trailing 18-20 in the second game but they came back tenaciously to win 27-25, forcing a rubber game.

Despite leading 14-11 in the decider, the English pair made fewer mistakes to take the match and title. The title slipped out of Malaysian hands as Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani were the defending champions.

Aaron-Wooi Yik, who are double Olympics bronze-medalists, are still in the hunt for their fourth title this season after bagging the Badminton Asian Championships, the Thailand Open and the Singapore Open earlier this year.