In a gripping battle worthy of a finals stage, Chezka Centeno edged compatriot and close friend Rubilen Amit, 4-1, 2-4, 4-2, 3-4, 4-2, to claim the title at the WPA Women’s World 10-Ball Championship on Sunday in Bali, Indonesia.
Amit, a two-time world 10-Ball champion who last year also claimed the world 9-Ball crown, began the tournament in dominant fashion, sweeping her matches in the qualification rounds. Centeno, meanwhile, had to fight her way through the loser’s bracket after falling 1-2 to Chen Chia-Hua of Chinese Taipei.
Both players cleared the Last 16 and quarterfinals before taking down heavyweights in the semifinals.
Centeno blanked three-time world 9-Ball champion Sha Sha Liu of China, 3-0, while Amit defeated former Euro Tour No. 1 Margaret Fefilova of Belarus, 3-1.
In the finals, Centeno drew first blood by winning the opening set, signaling her intent to reclaim the title she failed to defend last year.
Amit, however, responded with a strong performance to even the match.
In the deciding set, Centeno surged to a 3-1 lead. Amit showed her trademark resilience, narrowing the gap to 3-2 with a chance to tie in the sixth rack.
But a costly scratch on her break allowed Centeno to return to the table and run out the final set after committing three consecutive fouls in the fifth rack.
The Zamboanga City native earned $50,000 for her victory, marking her second world 10-Ball championship after winning the 2023 edition.
Amit, meanwhile, will take home $25,000.
Amit had entered the championship match unbeaten, defeating Margarita Fefilova of Belarus, 4-1, 4-0, 2-4, 4-0, in the semifinals to earn a shot at her third world 10-Ball title, having previously won in 2009 and 2013.
Centeno, coming from the loser’s bracket, reached the final with a hard-fought 4-3, 4-3, 4-3 victory over Liu Shasha of China, setting up the showdown between two former world champions.
