By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Chezka Centeno breathed life into her title-retention bid, but at the expense of compatriot Rubilen Amit as she advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2024 WPA World 10-Ball Women’s Championship on Thursday, Nov. 14, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The 25-year-old Centeno had to crawl back from the loser’s bracket, turning back Indonesia’s Annita Kanjaya, 1-4, 4-0, 4-2, before outclassing Amit in one hour and 53 minutes, 4-1, 4-0, 4-0, to inch closer to keeping the crown.
The win was a bittersweet one for Centeno as she avenged her Last 16 defeat to Amit – her good friend for many years now – in the World 9-Ball event last September.
Centeno was one of those cheering at the sidelines when Amit won the elusive world 9-ball crown.
This time, though, expect Amit to return the favor as Centeno sets up a quarters date with Chinese Taipei’s Chou Chieh Yu, who needed two hours and 46 minutes to dispatch Spaniard Mayte Ropero, 4-2, 4-1, 4-1.
Chou won the 2022 title at the expense of fellow Taiwanese Wei Tzu-chien.
Explosive showdowns are also in store in other quarters pairings that include last year’s bridesmaid Han Yu of China against 2010 champion Jasmin Ouschan of Austria; Wei versus former world 9-ball junior champion Kristina Tkach; and Korean Seo Soea against American Sofia Mast.
Meanwhile, Carlo Biado closed in on another title after barging into the semifinals of the Puerto Rico 10-Ball Open on Friday, Nov. 15.
Biado, the current world 10-ball men’s champion, fought back from a tight second-set stumble before edging Alexis Kazakis of Greece, 4-0, 3-4, 4-2.
The victory set up the Filipino veteran a meeting with Fedor Gorst, who survived another Greek rival in Dimitris Loukatos, 4-1, 2-4, 3-3 (3-2).
