On 12 September, Jorakay Corporation Co., Ltd., Thailand’s No. 1 tiling brand, hosted the 2026 Laos edition of JORAKAY Tiler X Season 2: The Next X-Tiler Craftsman Championship in Vientiane, closing out the regional season under the theme “From Local Talent to Global Standard.”
The 2026 championship ended with “Team Aiy Sun LMP” taking first place and LAK 20 million (USD 890), made up of teammates Banchong Chanthavy, Phetsamone Chanthavy, and Pep Sengphonexay. The competition’s total prize pool across all placements came to over LAK 70 million (USD 3,120).
The Laos leg served as the season finale, following earlier legs in Yangon, Myanmar, and Hanoi, Vietnam. Ten contestant teams competed in a morning qualifying round testing simulated step and stair tiling, with the top five advancing to an afternoon championship.
The final round challenged finalists to complete a full bathroom waterproofing and tiling system within a set time limit, judged on technical precision, surface preparation, safety, and time management.
Krongkanit Rakcharoen, Ambassador of Thailand to Laos, delivered a guest address at the opening ceremony, joining company executives in marking the competition’s final stop of the year and highlighting the growing ties between the two countries’ construction sectors.
Norawee Setthini, Chief Global Business Officer of Jorakay Corporation, said Season 2 elevates the programme from a single competition into a regional capability-building platform connecting Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos under one standard.
He said this year’s bathroom and wet-area challenge tests full-system technical understanding, from surface preparation and waterproofing to layout planning and product selection, rather than speed or cosmetic appearance alone, reflecting Jorakay’s push to build a “Trustmark” recognized across the region’s construction industry.
Ekalack Sakathit, Chief People Officer of the company, said the company places equal emphasis on developing people alongside innovation, noting that even the best products only deliver full value when handled by craftsmen who understand how to apply them correctly.
“Getting installation work right from the start reduces material waste, saves time and budget, and extends a building’s lifespan,” He said.
Ekalack also pointed to Jorakay Academy as part of the company’s contribution to the wider community, saying it works to share basic tiling knowledge with polytechnic students. He said the initiative gives young people an early foundation in the trade before they enter the workforce, complementing the competition’s aim of raising professional standards among practicing tilers.
He added that the programme’s real success lies not in participant numbers, but in contestants carrying what they learn back to their own projects and teams, gradually raising construction quality across the market.
Noly Inphaiyalath, who placed second at Jorakay’s inaugural 2025 Laos competition, returned to compete in Season 2 this year. Speaking to Laotian Times, he said he felt more nervous this year as the field doubled from 5 teams to 10.
“The competition is getting more competitive than the year before” he said, adding that the larger field meant contestants had to be more careful about the quality of their work under time pressure. “In the short and rushed time, we need to be as professional as possible to stand out at the competition,” Noly said.
With the Laos leg wrapping up the three-country series, Jorakay said it plans to carry the lessons from Season 2 into future editions, continuing its push to raise tiling standards and career opportunities for craftsmen across the region.
