By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Philippines’ top female cue artists Rubilen Amit and Chezka Centeno left for Atlantic City, New Jersey on Tuesday, Jan. 10, to compete in the 2023 Kamui Women’s World 9-Ball Championship.
The tournament is scheduled on Jan. 19 to 22 at the Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City where 64 invited participants are expected to go all out for the $30,000 (around P1.6 million) top purse.
The women’s world 9-ball event is coming off a four-year hiatus following its last staging in Sanya, China where Great Britain’s Kelly Fisher beat Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan to capture her second crown.
In that edition, Amit reached the semifinals but bowed to Ouschan.
The world 9-ball title has been elusive to Amit in her past 12 appearances. She came close to winning the 2007 edition held in Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei but lost to China’s Pan Xiaoting, 11-5, in the final.
The world No. 5 Amit is determined to start her season with a bang as she rides on the crest of a successful 2022 season where she won two gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, as well as the World 10-Ball Team title with Carlo Biado and Johann Chua.
Centeno, likewise, aims to make an impact in the prestigious tournament after moving to No. 8 following her victory in the inaugural Asian 9-Ball Open title. She was also a finalist at the Puerto Rico Women’s Open.
The $148,000 event will have in a double elimination format in Stage 1 while the 16-player Stage 2is a knockout affair.
Stage 1 will be played in a Race to 7 format while Stage 2 will be a Race to 9 contest.
