By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Chezka Centeno and Rubilen Amit pulled off contrasting wins in the group stage to arrange a first-round duel in the knockout round of the 2024 WPA World Women’s 9-Ball Championships in Hamilton, New Zealand on Thursday, Sept. 5.
Centeno clobbered Japanese Yuki Hiraguchi, 4-2, 4-2, to cruise into the 16-player knockout stage, while Amit had to dig deeper to make it to the next phase of the tournament.
After outlasting three-time champion Han Yu of China, 4-3, 4-2, Amit roared back from a slow start to oust reigning champion Chou Chieh-Yu of Chinese Taipei, 0-4, 4-0, 4-2, in the loser’s qualification.
However, both found themselves clashing for a spot in the quarterfinals on Friday, Sept. 6, with Amit seeking to rely on a wider experience against Centeno.
Amit, the first Filipina world pool champion after ruling the 2013 10-ball event, came close to the title in 2007 after a runner-up finish to China’s Pan Xiaoting. She also had semifinal appearances in 2018 and 2019.
Centeno, meanwhile, is looking to become the second Filipina world pool champion after winning last year’s 10-ball tournament. She is also coming off a title win in the Las Vegas 10-Ball Open this year.
Also in the knockout stage are former champions Kelly Fisher of Great Britain, Chen Siming and Liu Shasha of China, and two-time runner-up Jasmin Ouschan of Austria, to name a few.
