By MARK REY MONTEJO
Filipino cue artist Rubilen Amit inched closer to another title after advancing to the semifinal round of the women’s division of the 2024 WPA 9-ball China Open in Shanghai, Friday, Sept. 20.
Amit displayed her championship poise, dismantling veteran Austria’s Jasmin Ouschan, 9-3, in the round of 16 before overpowering Japan’s Chihiro Kawahara, 9-5, in the quarterfinals to secure her semifinal ticket.
Amit’s win was sort of a redemption after bowing to her Austrian foe in world 9-ball championship’s semifinals in 2019.
Her victory also set up a semis clash against hometown bet Han Yu in the event that offers $36,000 (roughly P2 million) for the female’s top winner.
Yu, before barging into the semifinal, outlasted Chinese Taipei’s Wei Tzu-Chien, 9-4, in the quarters.
The 42-year-old multi-titled Amit also claimed the scalps of Serbia’s Bojana Sarac, 7-5, and Indonesia’s Silviana Lu, 7-2, to make her way into the winner’s bracket.
Meanwhile, Amit’s partner Chezka Centeno lost her tempo in round of 16 and yielded to Chieh-Yu Chou (9-8) in their hill-hill collision.
In the men’s competition, Carlos Biado and Jeffrey de Luna faltered against their respective Polish rivals.
Biado lost to Wojciech Szewczyk, 11-2, in Round of 32 while de Luna was toppled by Konrad Juszczyszyn, 11-6, in the quarterfinals.
